I am a computer consultant from Dallas TX. Working in Hartford Connecticut, I receive a 1099, I am now renting a room from a private renter out of their home. Can I claim this as a deduction from housing expenses?

Yes, if you've been working away from home a year or less, or if you ran over but weren't expecting to.

If you are domiciled in Texas as the place where you normally live and work, and worked in Connecticut for one year of less, then the job in Connecticut is considered to be temporary in nature.

Expenses incurred on a temporary job on which you got paid under a Form 1099-MISC are deductible on the Schedule C. These expenses include the travel costs, the daily living expenses (food, rent, local transportation, incidental costs) plus normal expenses associated with the type ofwork you were doing.

So, yes, the rent CAN be deducted, no problem.