Housing, especially affordable housing, has been a major topic of conversation and public policy discussions in Columbus over the past several months as the city has been in the process of conducting a housing study, its first in more than a decade.
We’ve heard repeated calls from interested citizens for a greater emphasis on addressing affordable housing in Columbus, and to be clear, this is a problem in most Indiana cities. Finding workable solutions will require creativity and innovation.
An event next week just might provide a forum to spark such ideas, and the public is invited.
As The Republic’s Brad Davis reported, Columbus officials plan a housing town hall meeting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Cal Brand meeting room at Columbus City Hall. This is an opportunity for anyone who is interested in this issue to learn more and share their views with city officials and people working on housing issues.
Mayor Mary Ferdon has made affordable housing a top priority during her first year in office, and the results of a housing study expected in the summer should provide data and guidance to help find new ways to ensure that more people who want to live in Columbus can do that.
This study will include the voices, views and input of people in our community gathered from events such as Wednesday’s town hall, which will be led by RDG Planning & Design, the consultant conducting the housing study.
Public input will be vital in helping to shape perceptions of challenges, opportunities, and what can be done to make housing more accessible for people of all incomes.
Because as of now, data as well as anecdotal evidence suggest that there are plenty of people working in Columbus who cannot afford to buy or rent a home here.
In Bartholomew County, a little more than one-third of people who work here live in another county, according to US Census Bureau data interpreted last year by Stats Indiana. According to the data, roughly:
- 7.2% of the county’s workforce lives in Johnson County.
- 5.7% of the county’s workforce lives in Jackson County.
- 5.6% of the county’s workforce lives in Jennings County.
- 3.2% of the county’s workforce lives in Marion County.
- 2.8% of the county’s workforce lives in Brown County.
Certainly, some of that is by choice, but we’ve also heard from people who work in Bartholomew County who want to make it their home, but who say that housing costs here are prohibitive.
“We know there are some who choose to live here — they just can’t find adequate housing, whether that’s rental or home ownership,” said Director of Community Development Robin Hilber.
As Davis reported, affordable housing was a theme Ferdon mentioned in her State of the City address earlier this month.
She said the city “is prepared to use tools we have to create new affordable housing units for those who provide backbone services in our community.”
That’s encouraging, and so is the city’s invitation for members of the public to participate in a town hall that, with input from community members, will provide important perspectives on the issue.
