After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a national moratorium on evictions, state officials and local leaders in Fairfield are reminding renters about some of the help available to them.

They say more than 45,000 Connecticut households are behind in their rent.

Operation Hope says filed evictions have gone up 300% during the pandemic as average rental prices in Connecticut skyrocket.

The state Department of Housing has made $212 million in federal rental assistance available through the UniteCT program. So far, it has paid out $69 million in the state.

UniteCT Director Dawn Parker says thanks to an executive order from Gov. Ned Lamont in June, the eviction process can't begin without tenants being referred to UniteCT for aid.

"It allows for those conversations to happen over a 30-day period,” she says. “People can negotiate if they need to and then we can solve that problem."

State Sen. Tony Hwang says more permanent protections need to be put in place before that order expires.

"You can count me in as a supporter of us going back into a special session to address this funding need, because it is going to be critical,” he says.

Landlords say the program gives them hope to keep their own lights on, without putting tenants on the street.