By James Toy, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs
It’s no secret that housing affordability is one of the most significant challenges facing our community. REALTORS® advocate for more housing opportunities, greater housing supply and policies that help more people achieve housing stability. Yet those conversations often lead to the same question: Where do we begin?
For voters in Kansas City, Missouri, Question 1 on the August ballot offers an opportunity to take a meaningful step forward.
Kansas City faces an estimated shortage of 64,000 affordable housing units. No single policy can close a gap of that size, but meaningful progress requires meaningful action.
Question 1 would authorize up to $100 million in General Obligation Bonds to support affordable housing through new construction, rehabilitation, renovation and blight removal. It represents a significant investment in expanding housing opportunities and strengthening neighborhoods throughout Kansas City.
As REALTORS®, we know housing is more than a place to live. It is the foundation of economic opportunity, workforce growth and strong communities. When housing becomes less attainable, the effects are felt throughout the local economy and across entire neighborhoods.
KCRAR’s membership spans the entire Kansas City region, and this measure applies only to Kansas City, Missouri voters. For those voters, however, Question 1 represents an opportunity to move beyond discussing housing affordability and begin investing in solutions.
No single ballot measure will solve Kansas City’s housing challenges. But choosing not to act will not solve them either. Question 1 is a substantial investment in addressing a problem we all recognize and a meaningful step toward creating more housing opportunities for current and future residents.
For these reasons, KCRAR supports Kansas City Question 1 and encourages KCMO voters to learn more before casting their ballots.
