This year’s YIMBYtown conference, one of the country’s foremost events for advocates who want to see more housing and denser communities, will be held in New Haven in September. The gathering solidifies a place for Connecticut advocates as national leaders in the conversation around re-shaping the way the United States approaches housing. Desegregate Connecticut, a group that advocates for issues such as increasing housing density near train and bus stations and building more accessory dwelling units, is the host organization. YIMBYtown is a reference to the phrase “Yes, In My Backyard.” Pete Harrison, Connecticut director of the Regional Plan Association, said organizers want to highlight the growth in New Haven. Desegregate Connecticut is a program of the Regional Plan Association. “We want to specifically highlight that in Connecticut — both for folks in Connecticut to see this is possible and we need more help at the state level,” Harrison said. “ … But I think we’re showing the national movement that progress is happening here.” The most recent YIMBYtown conference was in Austin, Texas, and boasted a diverse political lineup that included speakers such as the Republican governor of Montana and conservatives from Arizona who are interested in housing reform. This was a shift from past years when the coalition was typically composed of Democrats and left-wing groups. Harrison said this will be a moment to see whether right-wing or Make America Great Again groups support the movement, if Trump doesn’t. During his past administration, Trump spoke about the importance of leaving zoning up to localities and preserving suburbs, rather than the increased density housing advocates would like to see. YIMBYtown began in Boulder, Colorado, in 2016. This year’s conference in New Haven will be Sept. 14-16. Harrison said he anticipates that there will be more than 500 attendees. Last year’s conference included topics such as how to grow a coalition, zoning reform in different regions of the U.S. and federal housing policy. Harrison said this year’s conference will focus on the ways housing and zoning intersect with the economy, equity and the environment. He added that a benefit of having the conference in New Haven is that he hopes there will be a strong presence from tenant union groups. Connecticut’s recent tenant union movement largely started in New Haven. In past years, YIMBYtown organizers have worked to include more tenants’ rights advocates in their work. Harrison said the organizing committee has also worked to be cognizant of past criticisms that the movement lacks racial diversity. He said each year, the conference has made strides toward addressing the issue. Karen DuBois-Walton, president and chief executive officer at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, said in a written statement that as a member of the organizing committee, she has had inclusivity on her mind. “I have spent most of my career creating communities that work for families at all income levels, but most especially those in need of quality housing that they can afford,” she said. “I have now joined an organization that has centered its work around equity and opportunity and seeks to deepen its investments in inclusive growth. Against this backdrop, I am proud to be a partner in this year’s conference.” Caroline Tanbee Smith, a New Haven Board of Alders member, said she’s “thrilled that New Haven,” has been chosen to host the conference. “One of the most critical questions of our lifetime is about housing: How do we ensure every single one of our neighbors has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home?,” Tanbee Smith said.