Homeownership
grandchildren, newly married couples, college students, seniors on a fixed income, police officers, teachers, and service workers.
By Mari Krashowetz, Executive Officer, Southern Utah Home Builders Association
Builders and landowners cannot solve the housing crisis alone. Municipalities that approve zoning requirements and charge impact fees cannot solve this issue. The construction labor force or building supply companies cannot solve this issue. We must come together; everyone needs to give a little in order to make progress towards resolving this challenge or our economy will eventually suffer.
is a Key Component to Strong Economic Growth and Stability
J
ust a few short years ago, the nation experienced a crash in the housing market followed by an economic downturn that had a great impact on us all. One of the most important lessons learned from this experience was that housing is vital to a strong economy, not only in the southern Utah area but throughout the United States. As our area currently faces a crisis in housing affordability and attainability, it is vital that all sectors of business, industry, and government come together as community partners to recognize, address, and solve these problems. The local economic impact of home building moves through every sector of the community, providing a rippling effect of benefits that include:
•h igher paying construction jobs. •m ore tax revenue for infrastructure and schools. • i ncreased employment opportunities throughout the supply chain. • i mproved quality of life through owner-occupied homes that add stability and security to our neighborhoods. Homeownership builds wealth, stabilizes communities, and supports local economies. The greatest challenge with housing today is the lack of attainable or affordable housing. Attainable housing is adequate, affordable housing for all ages and income levels. This impacts our children and
The Southern Utah Home Builders Association (SUHBA) is working with local leaders, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to help develop more attainable housing options that will benefit future generations in our community. Through public-private partnerships and the support of all stakeholders working together as a community, we can find solutions for problems facing our families today. One huge aspect of the attainable housing challenge is the lack of highpaying jobs in Washington County. We need to support economic plans that not only encourage existing businesses to expand but also attract new businesses that will provide wages to meet increasing housing costs. Housing prices are based on supply and demand. Many costs cannot be controlled. It is vital we attract businesses to our area that are willing to pay above-average wages. The St. George area is now on the map, and many people desire to live here. Let’s support a strong economic development plan that will attract highpaying jobs. One housing idea that could be explored and utilized as a solution to the area’s attainable housing shortage would be “missing middle housing.” Missing middle housing is a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that includes duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and multiplexes. These housing units are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, allowing density to be crafted on a scale that blends into existing neighborhoods.
32 Southern Utah Business Magazine :: Winter 2021
