A new emphasis on what the counties of the U.S. can do to formulate housing policies has been announced by the largest county government association in the country.
The Washington-based National Association of Counties says the creation of a special task force will focus on such approaches as public-private partnerships to provide more housing alternatives at the county level.
“Our goal is to eliminate the most critical housing challenges from the county government perspective,” said Denise Winfrey, president of the association, in announcing the initiative.
“Access to stable housing is a foundation for better health, physical education, a stronger workforce, and true financial wellness,” continued Winfrey.
The effort is expected to particularly look at the thorny issues of community planning, land use, and zoning, as well as other challenges impacting the construction of housing.
The task force will be made up of some 30 country leaders from across the country, meeting in February and May of 2023, and tasked with publishing a “national housing landscape” next summer.
Founded in 1935, the National Association of Counties has a membership of nearly 40,000 county-elected officials, and serves as a lobbying presence in Washington trying to secure federal funding for a wide variety of county needs.
Three years ago, the group published a study noting that well over half of the nation’s counties were heavily populated with renters and homeowners who spend “more than 30% of their income on rent or mortgage payments,” and are thus classified as “cost-burdened” households.
By Garry Boulard
