Housing

Housing

Housing is key to workforce attraction in Indiana. Communities rely on quality, affordable housing to attract new residents and retain families who have called the state home for decades. With an aging housing stock and a lack of affordable options, rural Indiana risks losing residents and workforce.

Responding strategically to housing needs

In partnership with industry and business, local government, and nonprofit organizations, we created a Housing Ready Toolkit to help communities assess their readiness for housing, determine the cost and benefit of new housing units, and plan for next steps. The toolkit will include housing market data resources, a quality-of-place inventory, a visioning guide, local government zoning and planning information, a tax model to help communities determine the cost and benefit of new housing units, and a site identification guide, among other resources.

Close up of student designed modest home.

Design-led solutions to housing development

A modest rural home project developed by Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design faculty and students pilots an innovative method to add new, sustainable, and design-oriented market-rate housing for workers, retirees and those with mobility issues alike. While contributing to the housing supply, this project has the potential to positively impact property values for land that is currently underused or blighted.

Create thriving rural communities with us