OKPOLICY.ORG
To help raise awareness of the state’s affordable housing crisis, the Oklahoma Policy Institute and its grassroots advocacy program Together Oklahoma will be hosting town halls for residents to share how the lack of affordable housing impacts them and their communities.
The town halls will be held:
- Tuesday, Aug. 29, 6 p.m., in Ada at the Wintersmith Lodge, West Room, 1700 Wintersmith Drive.
- Wednesday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m. in Edmond at Liberal Arts South Lecture Hall (Room 101), University of Central Oklahoma. (Building #35 on this campus map)
The events, which are scheduled to last about 90 minutes, are free and open to the public. Advance registration is not required.
Affordable housing is a problem nationwide due to rising house prices and stagnant wages. The problem is felt acutely in Oklahoma where 2 in 5 residents are unable to afford a stable home working a full-time job.
“As a result of rising prices and a lack of wage growth, we’re seeing too many of our fellow Oklahomans who are unable to put a roof over their heads,” said Sabine Brown, Infrastructure and Access Senior Policy Analyst for OK Policy. “Lack of affordable housing also is a significant contributor to homelessness. Ensuring that Oklahomans have access to safe, affordable housing is crucial to ensuring that our friends and neighbors can thrive.”
Information gathered during these town halls will be shared with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), which received a $215 million appropriation this year to help expand affordable housing across the state. Public comments from these town halls will help shape the agency’s rules for developers, builders, home purchasers, and renters in rural and urban areas. Input from residents will help ensure the program reflects the housing needs of all Oklahomans.
To learn more about the need for affordable housing in Oklahoma and policy solutions to address it, visit:
