Cheshire Interfaith Housing (CIH) was formally started in January, 1992 but the groups history goes back several years before that.  In 1989 the Cheshire Housing Partnership Committee was formed; it began meeting in early 1990.  This committee was comprised of Cheshire residents.  Formed in response to an invitation created by a Connecticut statue, the group undertook a study in order to "examine and identify housing needs and opportunities in the community".

    This committee surveyed the housing available in Cheshire,  the types of housing, and their prices.  They also analyzed the incomes of people in Cheshire, and the percentage of income that households are spending on housing.  This study pointed out that one of the problems, but not the only problem, that we have in Cheshire is the scarcity of housing for moderate income families.  A person in Cheshire with the median income could not afford a median priced house.  These problems are even worse for people of what are defined as low-income.

    In response to the findings and recommendations of the Partnership study, the three Catholic parishes in Cheshire (Epiphany, St. Thomas Becket, and St. Bridget) started their own study group in 1991.  Under the guidance provided by Jerry Dillenbeck of the Hartford Archdiocese Office of Urban Affairs, the housing study group's work paralleled the Cheshire Housing Partnership study and augmented it with interviews with a number of Cheshire residents and public officials.  This work further emphasized the need for more affordable housing in Cheshire.

    The findings of this group's discussions led to planning for action. So, in the fall of 1992, this group asked other churches and synagogues to join in with them.    The Cheshire Interfaith Housing group grew out of this call from these three Catholic parishes in Cheshire.  A number of Cheshire's faith communities have come together to form the Cheshire Interfaith Housing group. (See Who We Are)  As the newly enlarged group coalesced, it saw the need for more structure.  A sub-committee wrote bylaws and prepared for incorporation.

Cheshire Interfaith Housing has completed four houses and a fifth is in the works.