Can’t Pay Preschool Teachers More? Try Giving Them a Free Place to Live.
This story was co-published with The 74, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on education in America. A few years ago, Eric Gil was living at his uncle’s place in Waterbury, Connecticut, where he shared a bedroom with his brother and cousin. With eight people in the house, […]
Friends Center for Children in New Haven, Connecticut, has launched a groundbreaking teacher housing initiative that provides free homes to its educators. The program, which began in 2020, has already helped 10 teachers find affordable living arrangements just minutes away from their jobs. The initiative, which covers the entire cost of housing, aims to house 30% of the center's teaching staff by 2028.
By eliminating rent costs, the program has significantly improved the quality of life for early childhood educators, many of whom earn below the poverty line in New Haven. The initiative started with two donated properties—a three-family home and a single-family home—and has since expanded to include a partnership with Yale School of Architecture, which constructs about one home per year for teacher residents.
The homes are all owned by Friends Center, making the organization both the landlord and employer of its teacher residents.
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