Connecticut voters support changing the mortgage interest deduction, addressing homelessness and creating more affordable housing, according to results from a recent state poll from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Connecticut Housing Coalition.

Nearly half of voters also reported the belief that Connecticut does not have an adequate range of housing choices to meet the needs of its residents.

"Connecticut voters’ support for more federal investments to end homelessness is extremely encouraging," said Sheila Crowley, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition in a statement. "Connecticut’s elected officials should read these polling results as a clear message that Connecticut voters support changes in the mortgage interest deduction."

Most respondents supported the mortgage interest deduction (MID) and favored reforms that would make the deduction fairer and less regressive, with 53 percent reporting they would prioritize applying any savings from MID reform to ending homelessness. Additionally, 51 percent said they would prioritize reducing the federal deficit with those savings.

Forty-seven percent of participating voters favored capping the amount of a mortgage against which homeowners can claim a tax break at $500,000 (down from $1 million currently), and 43 percent opposed lowering the cap. Forty-five percent supported replacing the mortgage interest deduction (which only those who earn enough to itemize on their taxes can claim and that disproportionately benefits households in the highest tax brackets) with a 15 percent tax credit that all homeowners with a mortgage could claim. Forty-seven percent opposed such a change.

"These polling results clearly show that Connecticut voters are behind [the governor’s] goal to end homelessness across the state," Betsy Crum, executive director of Connecticut Housing Coalition, said in the statement.