Housing study identifies county’s needs for continued growth

The recently completed housing study conducted by Dubois Strong basically affirms what many residents have known for a while–it’s hard to find a place to live in Dubois County.

The study was completed last year by RDG Planning & Design. It involved several listening sessions with builders and developers, real estate agents, members of the local lender community, major employers, social service agencies, young professionals and retirees. During these meetings, major themes were identified in housing trends in Dubois County.

RDG Planning & Design then conducted an in-depth look at the area, considering population growth, employment, income, housing availability, housing construction, and more to create a comprehensive study with some strategies moving forward.

With educational opportunities and housing firmly ensconced as the top two factors in quality of life, it is important to assess the area’s needs to formulate a plan to address identified issues.

For example, the county’s population continues to grow, with Jasper averaging about 1.62 percent annually, Huntingburg averaging about 0.64 percent annually, and the county averaging about 0.48 percent overall. According to the study, this growth is largely due to the county’s high birth rate and the number of people moving here.

In extrapolating this data, the consulting team determined Dubois County’s quality of life and job availability could support a 0.75 percent to 1.0 percent population growth rate. At the 0.75 percent population growth rate, the county would have to add about 219 new housing units annually to meet the demand that would occur between now and 2030.

That new housing also has to provide more flexibility in the housing market for options catering to lower-income households and retirees looking to downsize. Adding more rental opportunities as well as alternative owner-occupied options was identified as a priority to provide more affordable options for households making less than $75,000 annually.

The study also suggested that adding higher-priced units could allow existing households in owner-occupied units to step up, opening up more housing at a lower price point.

You can learn more about the firm’s findings below, with an additional focus on specific cities and towns.

The study is important for Dubois Strong because it helps elected officials, businesses, and developers formulate plans to accommodate continued growth.

And since population growth and the available workforce drive economic growth, the study supports Dubois Strong’s mission to support business growth in Dubois County, said Dubois Strong Executive Direct Ed Cole.

“This is part of an overall strategy to bring in more people and support smart growth,” Cole said about the study.