Bridgeport man fears rent increase may leave him homeless

Reese, 63, says he barely has enough money to get the basics, so when his rent went up $50 a month recently, he suddenly came face to face with his worst fear ending up homeless.

Frank Recchia and Larry Epstein

Mar 11, 2024, 4:35 PM

Updated 289 days ago

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A Bridgeport man who received a new kidney says a recent rent increase could leave him homeless.
Frank Reese, who is disabled, says he lives on a fixed income of about $1,500 a month.
The 63-year-old says he barely has enough money to get the basics, so when his rent went up $50 a month recently, he suddenly came face to face with his worst fear ending up homeless.
"I have a lot of fear of the unknown because I've been through so much" says Reese.
Bridgeport recently created a Fair Rent Commission to reduce rents that are deemed excessive.
"You approach the commission and present the facts and they'll deal with the landlord in order to try and make this situation right" says Mayor Joe Ganim.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal is also looking at the big picture
“A fair rent commission really can document the need for more housing in Connecticut which can be supported by more federal funding," says Blumenthal.