Lawmakers try to address Utah’s housing shortage

WEBER COUNTY, Utah — Utah continues to face a steep housing shortage and lawmakers are working to figure out a solution.

Experts at a housing forum in Weber County said by the end of the year the shortage could be in the tens of thousands. 

At the forum yesterday, housing officials emphasized the need for more infrastructure to accommodate more building. Weber County commissioner, Gage Froerer said the problem is that the responsibility falls to the private building sector. He said lawmakers need to work together to create an infrastructure that allows building.

Additionally, Froerer said many cities will need some kind of incentive to help.

“The costs of infrastructure is so high right now,” Froerer said.

So, possible tax breaks were discussed as well as having entire regions of the state working together.

Froerer said one of the main options right now for funding is through the Community Reinvestment Act which allows cities to finance these types of projects.

Lawmakers also discussed diversifying the areas that have affordable housing.

“This needs to take place on a regional basis. One city alone can’t solve it, but if we look at it from a region, we bring in Davis County and even Box Elder [County],” said Froerer.

Another issue lawmakers are facing is available affordable housing.

“Ogden City obviously, provided a majority of what we call attainable or affordable housing in the county. They would like to see some of the other cities surrounding take on more of the loan,” said Froerer.

He said the other cities seemed open to that idea at the forum but noted that sometimes things change when it gets to the city council level.

Related:

• Ground broken for nearly 300 new starter homes in Weber County
• Utah is falling behind on affordable housing, state homeless coordinator says
• New study connects housing affordability with health