More than 700 homeowners around central Connecticut are set to receive financial support for crumbling foundations caused by faulty concrete, officials said.
Households in East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Glastonbury, Manchester and South Windsor with crumbling foundations have been identified and will receive support for repairs and recovery. More than $36 million in claim payments have been made to those households, with nearly $20 million in outstanding claim liability remaining and scheduled to be fulfilled in coming years, according to the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company.
The CFSIC, which provides aid to homeowners through state funding, has provided more than $150 million in support, with another $78 million left in its funds, according to a press release.
“The last decade has revealed some tough conditions for thousands of homeowners across our region, but the hard work by state leaders and the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company have helped alleviate the worst damage,” said State Sen. Saud Anwar. “Seeing these results, and knowing that the hard work of countless people has benefitted and aided community members in dire times, is reassuring. There’s still plenty of work left to be done, but these results are heartening.”
The announcement comes as the CFSIC has identified more than 2,360 homes across Hartford, Tolland and Windham Counties experiencing damage. The issue stems from foundations that contain an iron sulfide substance called pyrrhotite that causes slow degradation of concrete when exposed to oxygen and water.
“Crumbling foundations have been a scourge upon many Connecticut households, but the gradual progress seen in the last several years has been reassuring,” said State Sen. MD Rahman. “I’m committed to continuing to support all aid and support for those experiencing issues with their homes, with the hope that we can help them get needed repairs and fix the problem for good.
Coventry, Ellington, Manchester, South Windsor, Stafford, Tolland, Vernon and Willington were most directly impacted by crumbling foundations, with each town seeing more than 100 homes impacted. According to CFSIC data, Vernon has the most homes at 412.
Connecticut’s crumbling foundations crisis was uncovered in 2015, with more than 35,000 total homes potentially impacted by failing concrete foundations statewide. The failing concrete originated from the JJ Mottes Concrete Company in Stafford Springs, from 1983 to 2015. The company used pyrrhotite in its concrete, leading to thousands of crumbling foundations across the state. The slow degradation of pyrrhotite contributes to the impacts of the crisis, as its weakening effects can go unnoticed for up to 30 years, officials said in a press release.
Since 2015, Connecticut has allocated millions of dollars to aid homeowners with testing their foundations and tens of millions of dollars to aid with necessary and expensive repair work to make their homes safe to reside in, officials said.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at [email protected]
