Dear St. Patrick – St. Anthony family,
A public hearing will take place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 for a piece of legislation that the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance, or GHIAA would like to help support this year.
This bill prohibits a landlord of a building with five or more tenants to evict without cause. Please consider submitting testimony that would speak for those who would be affected.
Call to Action
Please consider submitting testimony to the Connecticut General Assembly Housing Committee on behalf of this bill. As Catholics and as Franciscans, it is important to us to advocate for issues with roots in Catholic Social Teaching and makes concrete the message of Pope Francis to go out into the world and put our faith and our values into action. Continue reading for more information from GHIAA on this issue, and for example testimony submitted by Fr. Mike.
Considering sending in your testimony?
Check out these resources from GHIAA:
- Testimony Guide: Our GHIAA Just Cause Testimony Guide is updated with all the latest info, including a fact sheet, step-by-step instructions for written and oral testimony, and a template for you to draw on when composing your testimony.
- Written Testimony: Numbers matter! It is critical for legislators to see a strong showing of support for this bill, so please submit written testimony expressing your support. Written testimony is most effective when submitted by the date of the public hearing (2/18), but may be submitted up to 7 days later. Submit your written testimony via the Housing Committee website. Our testimony guide includes a testimony template and step-by-step submission instructions.
Together, we can make a difference in our community and beyond. To submit your testimony, you can send it straight to the Housing Committee at the link below:
Advocacy Guide from GHIAA
GHIAA-Just-Cause-Evictions-Feb-2025Fr. Mike’s Testimony
Written Testimony Submitted to the Connecticut General Assembly Housing Committee
In support of HB 6889, An Act Concerning Evictions for Cause
Date: February 14, 2025
Dear Co-Chairs Sen. Martha Marx and Rep. Antonio Felipe, Ranking Members Sen. Rob Sampson and Rep. Tony J. Scott, and members of the Housing Committee:
My name is Fr. Michael R. Johnson, OFM. I am a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, and the Executive Director of the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry, affiliated with St. Patrick-St. Anthony Catholic Church. Our ministry, rooted in the Franciscan Catholic tradition, serves individuals and families in need, including many who struggle with housing insecurity.
I am testifying in strong support of expanding Just Cause eviction protections for all and in support of HB 6889.
I support this bill because…
Housing is not just a financial transaction—it is a fundamental human right and a matter of human dignity. Pope Francis has spoken frequently about the need for fair and just housing policies, stating:
“A home is not just a roof over one’s head, but a place where a person can have dignity, create and maintain relationships, and build their future.”
The Catholic Church teaches that shelter is not a privilege but a basic right, necessary for families to thrive and communities to remain stable. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has affirmed this principle:
“Decent housing is not a luxury, but a necessity. The lack of safe, affordable housing undermines the stability of families, the health of children, and the security of communities.”
This bill does not prevent landlords from enforcing lease agreements or evicting tenants for legitimate reasons. What it does is ensure that tenants cannot be removed without just cause, protecting them from arbitrary or retaliatory evictions.
This issue matters to me because…
There are tenants who have reported issues like lack of heat in the winter, persistent mold, or structural hazards. In some cases, landlords only addressed these problems after authorities intervened. Yet, months later, some of these same tenants were served with notices to quit—even when they had been responsible renters for years.
The message was clear: Speak up, and you could lose your home.
Evictions like these upend lives. Families who have fought for their basic right to safe housing can suddenly find themselves scrambling to secure a new place to live. The fear of retaliation keeps many tenants silent, forcing them to live in conditions that no one should have to endure.
When tenants have no protection against retaliatory evictions, they are forced to choose between their health and their housing. That is not justice. That is not dignity.
I urge you to pass HB 6889 because…
Just Cause eviction protections are about fairness and stability. This bill ensures that landlords provide a legitimate reason before displacing a tenant, preventing unjust evictions that destabilize families, communities, and local economies.
As Pope Francis reminds us:
“There is no material poverty worse than the lack of a home, in which to feel sheltered, protected, and safe.”
We cannot allow housing to be used as a weapon against the most vulnerable. If a tenant follows the rules, pays rent, and maintains their home, they should not live in fear of losing everything simply for standing up for their rights.
Just Cause eviction protections are not just a legal necessity—they are a moral imperative.
I urge you to pass HB 6889 and ensure that Connecticut tenants are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Fr. Michael R. Johnson, OFM
Executive Director, Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry
St. Patrick-St. Anthony Catholic Church, Hartford, CT