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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 3876
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE YOUNG.
6406H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
WHEREAS, Missouri is currently experiencing a housing af fordability and
2 availability crisis, with a significant portion of the population struggling to find af fordable
3 housing options that meet their needs; and
4
5 WHEREAS, according to the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC),
6 Missouri’ s af fordable housing gap has widened, with thousands of low-income families
7 unable to access safe, stable, and af fordable 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 101,905 rental units that are af fordable
11 and available to renters with extremely low incomes (30% or less of the area's median
12 income); 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 af fordability 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 af fordability crisis is compounded by an increasing number of
24 Missouri households being priced out of home ownership, particularly in urban centers such
25 as St. Louis, Kansas City , Springfield, and Columbia, where home prices have risen rapidly in
26 recent years; and
27
28 WHEREAS, insufficien t investment in af fordable housing development, both in the
29 private and public sectors, is leaving Missouri’ s most vulnerable populations, including
30 seniors, disabled individuals, and families with children, without adequate housing options;
31 and
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33 WHEREAS, the shortage of affor dable 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
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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 af fordable housing, reduce
42 barriers to construction, and address the af fordability 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 T ax Credit, zoning reforms, expansion of rental assistance programs, and
47 strategic investments in af fordable housing infrastructure; and
48
49 WHEREAS, solving Missouri’ s housing af fordability 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 RESOL VED that the Missouri House of
5 4 Representatives, One Hundred Third General Assembly , Second Regular Session, hereby
55 recognizes the ur gent housing af fordability and availability crisis facing the state and calls for
56 immediate and comprehensive action to address the issue; and
57
58 BE IT FUR THER RESOL VED that the Missouri House of Representatives ur ges 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 affor dable housing; and
62
63 BE IT FUR THER RESOL VED that the Missouri House of Representatives calls on
64 the Missouri General Assembly to prioritize the creation and implementation of policies that
65 promote af fordable housing development, reduce housing costs, and support individuals and
66 families struggling to find adequate housing; and
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68 BE IT FUR THER RESOL VED that the Chief Clerk be instructed to prepare a
69 properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Governor and the President Pro T empore of
70 the Missouri Senate.
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