In The News - 7/9/2025
KREM
Boomtown: Greater Spokane Inc. hosts 'State of Housing' summit to discuss affordable housing
Greater Spokane Inc. hosted a panel discussion brought community ideas on how to make housing more affordable for everyone in Spokane.
Tuesday morning, local leaders came together at the Spokane Convention Center to talk about the future of housing in Spokane.
When cities like Spokane continue to grow, home ownership rates tend to do the same. However, as panelists and guests at the State of Housing Summit pointed out, Spokane's is doing the opposite.
“Our home ownership rates are declining as a community, and that’s a difference maker for all communities, when you see that decline," Executive Officer of the Spokane Home Builder's Association Joel White said. "We should be growing in home ownership rates, not declining right now.”
The Spokane home builders association was just one of many major businesses and associations represented. Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck was the keynote speaker, and part of the panel discussion.
“Even if we’ve owned our own home forever, a severe housing shortage means people aren’t going to be able to afford homes to buy, to get into homes, to be able to rent, it causes all sorts of problems!" Lieutenant Governor Heck said. "Home ownership, shelter, is fundamental to a person’s economic well-being!”
Mayor Lisa Brown announced new legislation earlier this week aimed at increasing incentives and decreasing development costs of affordable housing. However, the panel talked also about solutions that involve more than just government, for all levels of housing.
“The housing problem can’t just be solved from the bottom up, you can’t just provide more government funds to subsidize housing, you have to build that housing ladder up,” White said.
Both Heck and White said it's important to continue the conversation about affordable housing, and strive for innovative solutions.
“Engage the broader community in this conversation, so that they fully understand all the problems that are being caused by the severe housing shortage," Lieutenant Governor Heck said. "That will help the people that run for elected office, who hold elected office encounter less resistance to changing the things we need to change to make sure that people can have access to a decent home.”
Greater Spokane, Inc. will be continuing the conversation with their "State of the County" event on September 11.