If you’re trying to buy a home, you know how tough it is.

On Thursday, Connecticut lawmakers unveiled a controversial bill to address the state’s severe housing shortage. But the proposal is drawing criticism from both sides of the affordable housing debate.

After months of negotiations, Democratic leaders unveiled the 92-page package on Thursday. But they delayed a vote until next week after Republicans threatened an all-night filibuster.

The bill’s author called it a compromise that is unlikely to make everyone happy.

“I'm really trying to meet everybody somewhere in the middle to advance a policy that just helps us get more housing built,” said House Democrats leader Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford). “If we don’t do anything today, 10 years from now, this situation will be far worse than it is today. And it takes a long time to get housing built.”

The wide-ranging legislation tackles three areas – zoning, rentals and homelessness.

To build more homes, communities would be required to approve “middle housing” of up to nine units (including duplexes and triplexes) on commercially zoned land.

The bill also scraps parking requirements for apartment complexes with fewer than 24 units – and limits requirements for larger developments.

Critics called it a free pass for developers.

“I don't know how else, again, you slice and dice that, but that's a mandate,” said state Rep. Joe Zullo (R-East Haven). “And that’s a grab at local control.”

The bill also requires wealthier communities to submit a Priority Affordable Housing Plan, which outlines how they will change zoning laws to meet part of a “Fair Share” housing quota – or to justify why they can’t meet it. The housing must include 25% rentals, and half of the units must fit a family.

Two years ago, Fairfield County Democrats defeated a “Fair Share” housing mandate.

“Talked to a lot of Democrats who have a major problem with that piece, and I think it's something we're going to have a long debate on today,” said state Rep. Tony Scott (R-Monroe).

The legislation also makes it harder to neighbors to challenge a zoning decision on new developments.

“We do a great job in Hartford – the Democrats do a great job – of overregulation and overcomplicating things. And it’s part of the reason Connecticut is so costly to live in.”

The housing crisis is severe – and it’s potentially costing the state billions of dollars.

A report released Thursday from the Connecticut Business and Industry Association estimated a shortage of up to 350,000 units.

“The economic consequences of this housing deficit are substantial – likely in the tens of billions of dollars per year,” said CBIA Foundation director Dustin Nord. “The lack of housing not only reduces options for workers, but creates workforce mismatches, impairs business competitiveness and ultimately constrains economic growth.”

The report blames restrictive zoning laws, including large-lot zoning requirements and complicated approval processes.

Tenants would see new protections, too.

The legislation bans landlords from using algorithms to set rental rates, and each town in the state – regardless of size – would have to establish a Fair Rent Commission.

Multifamily buildings would have to undergo elevator inspections once a year. Legislative analysts estimate the state would have to hire two new inspectors at a cost of $288,000 a year.

And the state attorney general would get new powers to sue property owners for discrimination.

But package falls far short of what tenants’ rights groups asked for.

They wanted a ban on “no cause” evictions, which would have required property owners to renew a lease unless the tenant doesn’t pay the rent, violates the lease terms or keeps the unit unclean and unsafe. The rules would have applied to any complex with five or more units.

Dozens of apartment dwellers told lawmakers they were forced to swallow massive rent hikes – or move out.

“Guess what? We’re not going to renew your lease and here’s a form for vacate. You’ve got to leave," said José Benitez, of New Britain. “A lot of the tenants had to leave because of the flipping, just because of the flipping – the rent increases that are happening.”

“No cause” eviction bans have failed for several years. Property owners argued that they infringe on private property rights and force landlords to pull units off the market.

“It will now be harder to get rid of a bad tenant than it is to divorce a spouse should this pass,” said property owner Adam Bonoff. “’Cause’ is a very difficult thing to prove and can take years and courts to reach a conclusion. A drug dealer may be a very good payer, but very bad for a building – as is a child molester, thief or other type of intimidator.”

Also left out of the housing bill? A proposal limiting security deposits to one month’s rent.

“In Norwalk Connecticut, a studio is $3,500,” said state Rep. Kadeem Roberts (D-Norwalk). “So we’ve got to be honest and understand, like, no one has $10,000 to put up.”

On the homelessness front, structures designed to keep people from sitting or sleeping on public property would be banned.

The state would also launch a pilot program in three cities for portable showers and laundry.

“To try to just recognize the humanity of people who are experiencing homelessness and would like to take a shower more often,” Rojas said.

The pilot program would cost at least $500,000 over the next two years, according to the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.

After the House vote, the bill also needs approval from the Connecticut Senate and Gov. Ned Lamont, who has opposed local zoning mandates in the past.

Lamont’s office said he is likely to support the current version.

“The Governor appreciates the legislature making accommodations to their housing bill to include some of his priorities, which include removing local barriers to housing development, while allowing municipalities the ability to maintain control,” spokesman Rob Blanchard said in a statement. “Connecticut’s housing supply is constrained at a time when our housing needs should be keeping up with demand and affording families the opportunity for home ownership. As there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the housing shortage, this legislation will encourage better collaboration between the private sector, who build residences, and local leadership.”