Housing supply is a big issue in the region. More housing of varied types is needed in all communities due to a backlog of about 50,000 units, just to address existing housing gaps. Over 800,000 new units are needed to accommodate the population expected by 2050.
PSRC fielded the Housing Incentives and Tools Survey (HITS) in the summer of 2022 to local jurisdictions to better understand how tools, incentives and strategies are being used and which are having the biggest impact on increasing housing development and affordability.
What is happening to address supply?
The 2022 Housing Incentives and Tools survey findings show local jurisdictions are working to address housing supply by adopting incentives to promote development and affordability. When calibrated to local conditions, incentives can be powerful tools and can reduce costs of developing housing, encourage higher density, and reduce costs of housing for renter and homeowners.
Local jurisdictions are also working to address supply by changing zoning to expand capacity and diversity of housing types, with a large focus on new middle density housing.
What are the gaps in addressing supply?
The region still has a ways to go to make up the existing backlog of housing and meet the need for 800,000 new units by 2050. While most jurisdictions are taking action to address housing supply, even stronger incentives and local actions are needed. Upcoming local comprehensive plan updates in 2024 are an important opportunity for cities to take further, bolder steps to combat housing supply challenges.
The full survey results are available on our website. Look for more blog posts on the survey over the coming week.
