Housing America's Residents: The County Role
Upcoming Events
Related News
This report defines the county role and authority regarding the national housing shortage and provides examples for county action.
Housing is one of the basic needs for healthy, safe and vibrant communities. Some research estimates a housing shortage of more than 3.8 million units across the country. County voices are instrumental in community planning, land use, zoning and enacting policies and other regulations that affect housing. In addition, many counties distribute federal relief for emergency rental assistance, evictions and foreclosures, and provide temporary housing solutions to individuals with disabilities, low-income populations, veterans and those experiencing homelessness. Though county leaders have varied authority in cultivating housing affordability, each county can play a role in the solution.
Demand for housing has outpaced available supply in counties nationwide
County housing income to cost ratio compared to population trends from the Housing Solutions Matchmaker Tool analysis.
Housing America's Residents
NACo’s Housing Affordability for America’s Counties provides six reports that analyze important aspects of housing affordability. These reports provide information on the county's role, the federal-county relationship and options for county-led actions.
Housing America's Residents: The County Role
This report defines the county role and authority regarding the national housing shortage and provides examples for county action.
Housing America's Residents: The Federal-County Intergovernmental Nexus
NACo’s report provides an overview of the many federal resources available to counties seeking to increase options for affordable housing.
Housing America's Residents: Finance, Lending and County Tax Policy
NACo’s report details four aspects of the county role in housing finance to successfully develop new housing, maintain existing housing stock and navigate housing support systems.
Housing America's Residents: Land Use, Zoning, Infrastructure and Community Planning
NACo’s report details four aspects of the county role in housing finance to successfully develop new housing, maintain existing housing stock and navigate housing support systems.
Housing America’s Residents: Community Engagement, Education and Partnerships
NACo’s report provides guidance and county examples on integrating public involvement, education and partnerships to inform housing requirements and gain community support.
Housing America’s Residents: Regulations, Codes and Fees
NACo’s report how county officials use local regulations, codes and fees on individual development projects to promote affordable housing goals.
Resource
Advancing Local Housing Affordability: NACo Housing Task Force Final Report
Archive of Housing Publications
Across the U.S., county residents are facing a crisis of housing affordability. Housing affordability becomes a problem when too many homes are developed outside of the purchasing power range of residents. As a result, potential homebuyers delay buying a house for years as they try to save for a down payment while repaying student loans and paying exorbitant rents. Low-income renters teeter on the edge of eviction and homelessness when a sudden job loss, unexpected expense or death hits the family. Housing affordability is a challenge that confronts all types of counties on the ground.
Across the country, the lack of affordable housing is severely impacting homeowners and renters. Increasingly, housing affordability is of major concern across all regions of the U.S. and throughout urban, suburban and rural communities. This issue effects everyone, including those who work for counties.
Residents across the country are increasingly burdened by rising housing and transportation costs, which are the leading drivers of affordability challenges.
Across the nation, county residents and county governments are struggling with housing costs. County governments are most explicitly linked to housing through property assessments and the collection of property taxes – their top revenue source – yet, they face a diverse set of challenges stemming from housing affordability issues.
Counties of all sizes and in all regions of the country are struggling with housing affordability.
Counties get creative with land use to add affordable housing
Orange County, Fla. is working to develop affordable housing on land owned by religious institutions and Fairfax County, Va. is exploring co-locating its libraries with affordable housing.
County-backed loan fund unlocks thousands of affordable housing units
Montgomery County, Md. is using a $100 million revolving loan fund to develop more than 3,000 affordable housing units across the county.
Housing shortage seeds planted years ago
The United States did not wind up with a housing shortage overnight - several factors have played into the conditions that have created the current market.
County invests in emerging developers to ease housing crunch
Shelby County, Tenn. offered instruction, connections and mentorship to budding real estate developers to bring fresh ideas and approaches to the market.
Housing shortages limit community building in rural counties
When counties' housing markets price out workers, they lose a population that participates in civic live, volunteerism and community building.
2026 NACo Energy Symposium
Join county leaders from across the country in the Texas Panhandle to engage with the most pressing energy issues shaping rural America today. Hear from experts, exchange ideas with peers and gain practical insights into the policies, projects and partnerships driving rural energy development.