Greg Lawson discusses Ohio's housing crisis and what policy makers are doing about it

News In Focus with Chris Long

Greg Lawson discusses Ohio's housing crisis and what policy makers are doing about it

Greg Lawson, Research Fellow at the Buckeye Institute, Ohio's conservative think tank, joins News in Focus to discuss with Chris Long Ohio's housing crisis and what legislators are doing about it. Rising costs due to inflation, high interest rates, and the lack of available single family homes, as well as rising rents, are driving the crisis. Ohio can't build for the future if it can't house the new workers coming in for the Intel project in central Ohio. Costs are high, builders aren't building, banks aren't lending, and younger adults are losing hope of ever realizing the American dream of owning their own home.

The Ohio Senate convened a select committee on housing earlier this year. They heard from mortgage lenders, home builders, and other interested parties. They have taken those findings from the committee hearings and have drafted legislation to address the problem. Senate President Matt Huffman stated in a press conference last week that there was not enough time this year to have a comprehensive plan in place, but that this will be a priority of the legislature and that it will take multiple years to turn the situation around in Ohio to address Ohio's housing crisis.