Kids thrive on routine, and school tends to be a big part of that routine. When it’s disrupted, it can be distressing, said Jason Lang, chief program officer at the Child Health and Development Institute, a Farmington-based nonprofit research organization that helps train other pediatric and mental health providers in Connecticut.
Bouncing as she walked, plastic heels clacking on the concrete as she swished her colorful “Encanto” costume, 4-year-old Ayla pointed to the sidewalk in front of her.
"Watch out for the holes,” she warned.
Ayla not her real name has lived in the Wedgewood Apartments in Bloomfield nearly all her life. (The CT Mirror/CT Public agreed to the family’s request not to identify the child.)
In Connecticut, protections for people who rent their homes are limited. Tenant unions aren’t new, but they've gained momentum in Connecticut over the past year, with at least five tenants unions having formed.
“It’s a slap in the face … How long do you give them a chance? How long do you get?” asked Donna Curry, Ayla’s grandmother, referring to the landlord she hasn’t met since they took over in 2020.