Jefferson City Launches 40-Unit Housing Project to Tackle Shortage

Addressing the Housing Crisis in Jefferson City

Jefferson City is taking a significant step toward addressing its housing challenges with the announcement of a new 40-unit housing complex. This development, initiated by Central Missouri Community Action, marks a crucial effort to combat what many are describing as a growing housing crisis in the region.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new complex took place on Tuesday, and it includes essential amenities such as a playground, a community room, and a dog park. According to Darin Preis, the executive director of Central Missouri Community Action, the project is designed to serve individuals across all income levels. However, Preis emphasized that there is a particular need for middle-income housing options.

"We see that low-income families don't have enough affordable units, so they're spending more than they can afford for rent," Preis explained. "Meanwhile, people on the higher end of the income scale don't have choices for buying homes, so they end up purchasing middle-income homes. This dynamic really squeezes out affordability for everyone."

The new complex is expected to be completed within 12 to 18 months and will cost a total of $13 million. Funding comes from a combination of low-income housing tax credits and community development block grant disaster relief funds. The project is part of a broader strategic plan by Central Missouri Community Action to expand housing options in the area, which serves eight counties.

Preis noted that the 2019 tornado had a devastating impact on housing in Jefferson City, particularly on low-income units. The storm destroyed approximately 150 housing units, with about 100 of those being low-income homes. "That really devastated the community and made a bad situation even worse," Preis said.

Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater also attended the groundbreaking ceremony and echoed concerns about the housing shortage. He highlighted how local businesses, including Lincoln University, have struggled to find housing for their employees. Fitzwater mentioned that the university recently hired six high-level administrators, none of whom could find a place to live in the area.

"As anyone who has lived in this community for a long time knows, we have a housing crisis," Fitzwater said. "We need places for people to live because our businesses are saying, 'we need to hire employees, but we don’t have any place to put them.'"

This lack of housing has led many residents to commute from other areas, which limits the city’s economic growth. Fitzwater emphasized the importance of expanding the population to strengthen the city's tax base and support infrastructure. "Our options are to either grow or face a heavier tax burden on existing residents or cut services," he said.

To achieve this, Fitzwater set a goal of increasing the city's population to 50,000 residents within the next decade. The current population is around 42,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. To meet this goal, the city needs to add between 3,000 and 5,000 housing units over the next ten years.

Fitzwater praised the new housing complex as a positive step forward. "It's a partnership, everybody working together to make Jefferson City a better place for all of us," he said. "I think people are catching the vision that we're on the move and we've got some pretty exciting things going."

Preis also highlighted the economic benefits of adding more housing. "Having employees closer to their homes and employers increases economic development opportunities in the city," he said.

In addition to the 40-unit complex, Central Missouri Community Action is in the process of purchasing five lots to build single-family homes. This initiative represents a multi-pronged approach to addressing the housing crisis and supporting the growth of Jefferson City.