New study sheds light on grim housing market in Kootenai County скачать в хорошем качестве

New study sheds light on grim housing market in Kootenai County

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- 80% of households are now priced out of the housing market in Kootenai County, a harsh reality for many people who have spent their lives in the area of North Idaho. The 2023 Housing Availability and Affordability Study for Kootenai County, done by the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation (CDA EDC), Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance, and other local organizations, compares today's housing situation to what it was back in 2016. In the last seven years, the average price of a home in Kootenai County has increased by 160%. Where back then the average price of a home was just over $256,000, now it's more than $660,000. "Homes are just too expensive. And with the interest rates, a home that would normally be affordable just isn't right now," said Elizabeth Corey. Coeur d'Alene resident Elizabeth Corey is feeling the problem first-hand as she tries to sell her home. "I'm a single-mom, work for one of the biggest law firms in the U.S. and I cannot afford a house here," Corey said. Greta Gissil with Connect Kootenai works to find solutions to the growing housing crisis. She says the report shows just how much worse things have gotten, and the urgent need for local worker housing. "If we don't provide more local worker housing in the area, we will be faced with the loss of our service industry workers. Our firefighters, our police officers," Gissil said. "Once that happens to the degree where people finally feel the pinch, I think that they'll really understand what a significant impact local worker housing has on our area." According to the study, the pinch has already started, with the housing market contributing to the loss of more than 5,000 jobs county-wide, which trickles down to the loss of millions in the local economy. Gissil and her partners have come up with solutions on ways to build more units workers can afford, like accessory dwelling units. But she says there is no blanket approach to fixing the problem. "There are so many solutions, but it has to be multi-faceted because there is no one overarching things that is going to fix our lack of housing," Gissil said. You can view the full Housing Availability and Affordability Study here: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/15ef... You can find more information about Kootenai Connect here: https://connectkootenai.org/ ►Subscribe:    / 4newsnow   ►Website: http://www.kxly.com ►Twitter:   / kxly4news   ►Facebook:   / kxly4news