HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 552 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE YOUNG.
3144H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
WHEREAS, Missouri is currently experiencing a housing affordability and 2 availability crisis, with a significant portion of the population struggling to find affordable 3 housing options that meet their needs; and 4 5 WHEREAS, according to the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), 6 Missouri’s affordable housing gap has widened, with thousands of low-income families 7 unable to access safe, stable, and affordable housing; and 8 9 WHEREAS, as of the most recent reports from the National Low Income Housing 10 Coalition (NLIHC), Missouri has a shortage of nearly 150,000 rental units that are affordable 11 and available to renters with extremely low incomes (30% or less of the area median income); 12 and 13 14 WHEREAS, data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey 15 indicates that nearly 40% of renters in Missouri spend more than 30% of their income on 16 housing costs, making housing affordability a pressing issue for the state’s working families 17 and individuals; and 18 19 WHEREAS, rising construction costs, limited available land, and regulatory barriers 20 are contributing to a slow pace of new housing development in both urban and rural areas of 21 the state, leading to higher housing costs and fewer available units; and 22 23 WHEREAS, the affordability crisis is compounded by an increasing number of 24 Missouri households being priced out of homeownership, particularly in urban centers like St. 25 Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia where home prices have risen rapidly in recent 26 years; and 27 28 WHEREAS, insufficient investment in affordable housing development, both in the 29 private and public sectors, is leaving Missouri’s most vulnerable populations, including HR 552 2
30 seniors, disabled individuals, and families with children, without adequate housing options; 31 and 32 33 WHEREAS, the shortage of affordable housing in Missouri has been shown to have 34 significant negative impacts on the economy, public health, and educational outcomes for 35 children and families, as those struggling with housing insecurity often face higher rates of 36 eviction, poor living conditions, and limited access to opportunities for economic mobility; 37 and 38 39 WHEREAS, the Missouri General Assembly has a constitutional duty to protect the 40 welfare of its citizens, and it is imperative that lawmakers and local governments come 41 together to adopt policies that encourage the development of affordable housing, reduce 42 barriers to construction, and address the affordability crisis head-on; and 43 44 WHEREAS, Missouri’s residents and communities would benefit greatly from the 45 implementation of innovative housing solutions, including increased funding for the Low- 46 Income Housing Tax Credit, zoning reforms, expansion of rental assistance programs, and 47 strategic investments in affordable housing infrastructure; and 48 49 WHEREAS, solving Missouri’s housing affordability and availability crisis will 50 require a collaborative approach, including the active involvement of state and local 51 governments, businesses, nonprofits, and other community stakeholders: 52 53 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Missouri House of 54 Representatives, One Hundred Third General Assembly, First Regular Session, hereby 55 recognizes the urgent housing affordability and availability crisis facing the state and calls for 56 immediate and comprehensive action to address the issue; and 57 58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Missouri House of Representatives urges all 59 Missourians, including citizens, policymakers, and community leaders, to give thoughtful 60 consideration and work together to explore viable solutions to solve the housing crisis, 61 ensuring that every Missouri family has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing; and 62 63 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Missouri House of Representatives calls on 64 the Missouri General Assembly to prioritize the creation and implementation of policies that 65 promote affordable housing development, reduce housing costs, and support individuals and 66 families struggling to find adequate housing; and HR 552 3
67 68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk be instructed to prepare a 69 properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the governor and the president pro tempore of 70 the Missouri senate. ✔