Segregated On Purpose: America’s Richest Towns Fight Affordable Housing

Westport, Connecticut is one example of a wealthy suburb that has surrounded itself with invisible walls to block access to affordable housing. The otherwise politically liberal state has kept its low-income housing concentrated in poor cities, an imbalance that hasn't budged in 30 years.

Zoning boards rely on regulations--often containing coded, racist language--to block the construction of privately developed duplexes and apartment building within their boarders. The impact is most felt by Black and Hispanic residents of Connecticut, who live in some of the nation's most segregated neighborhoods.