Blog Story: 3 Ways that County Governments Can Accurately Address Housing Issues in Their Communities

Affordable housing is one of the most challenging issues our communities in the United States face today. While there are federal programs available to assist with subsidized housing, the bulk of the responsibility to strategize and implement on the ground typically lies with state and local governments. With limited resources than the federal government, how can county governments optimize their community for affordable housing solutions to generate building in their communities?

What Defines ‘Housing Affordability?’

Before exploring options to affordable housing for your community, it’s imperative to define just h determine what ‘affordable’ housing options are. Many housing and real estate-related entities that research affordability classify any household that spends more than 30% of their annual income on housing expenses as ‘house burdened,’—meaning that the household is at a higher risk of losing its home due to affordability issues.

With a staggering 19 million homeowners and 21.7 million renters in the U.S. considered house-burdened in 2021 data reports, it’s no wonder local governments are scrambling to provide much-needed relief on a stressed industry.

3 County Government Solutions to Address the Affordable Housing Crisis

1. Search for public-private partnership opportunities.

One of the most efficient ways for local governments to directly influence the housing crisis in their communities is to seek out public-private partnership opportunities. The easiest solution would be to look toward businesses that are already established in that community. Still, there are plenty of private businesses and organizations looking to walk the line of social responsibility that is touted by companies today. Customers crave it, communities love it, and residents could benefit directly.

Many of these typical grants/funding opportunities for local governments are often short term, one-time opportunities. However, first securing these short-term grants for your community will open the door for later conversations about ongoing funding for community project needs.

For example, the Home Depot Foundation offers anywhere from $100,000 - $500,000 for multi-unit veteran housing facilities, and this could be a great first step to address your county’s housing issues.

2. Advocate at the state and federal levels of government.

Public-private partnerships aren’t the only partnerships you should seek to address local housing issues. State and federal agencies have a plethora of resources available to county governments in the U.S. Most states have housing agencies, local apartment associations, realtor associations, and federal housing agency satellite offices to serve the communities of that state.

For example, Tennessee’s Housing Development Agency is a state organization with plenty of resources to help local governments address housing issues. This is just one of many organizations available to find solutions for your community’s housing and infrastructure. Partnering with these organizations can lead to major successes in your community.

3. Establish a local housing authority.

A local housing authority is one of the biggest tools in a county government’s toolbox if used efficiently. This entity can create solutions independently for the local community. It’s funded and operates through the sale of local bonds, allowing the housing authority to curate cost-efficient housing solutions for low-income and other displaced residents. The agency can also partner with other organizations and build single family homes through a specialized, designated fund.

Interested in more information about forming a local housing authority for your community? Click here to read more about the process and what it takes. 

The Big Picture: County Governments Have Power When It Comes to Affordable Housing

As public servants, we must ensure that each citizen has adequate services and resources needed to flourish in the local community. As mentioned earlier, the housing affordability issues facing the U.S. today are at an all-time high. These issues were drastically increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but county governments have the power to address them. Further, local governments have the power and direct influence to help their communities thrive.

If you’re serving in local government but unsure where to even begin analyzing the housing needs of your county, try out this Local Housing Solutions’ Needs Assessment Tool. It’s a free tool that has evaluated multiple factors of each municipality and ZIP code in the U.S. Some of the factors include racial disparity in the neighborhoods, economic factors such as employment, poverty level, basic demographic information, and other vital aspects that makeup the housing affordability in that area.

Basic research will take you farther in the initial planning phases of housing strategy in your county, and you’ll need that information when constituents come to you with more questions as you pose the potential solutions to the housing issues in the area. Furthermore, it’s always best to have more data than not enough when fundamentally transforming your community.

For more information concerning affordable housing issues, please visit any of the resources listed above, or check out more Affordable Housing Magazine editions that discuss other solutions to address the affordable housing crisis in the U.S. today.

How has your county addressed housing affordability in your community? Let us know in the comments below.