Housing Study Highlights Challenges, Recommendations for Bloomington

The City of Bloomington released a housing assessment study that was commissioned in 2019, analyzing the current status of housing stock and identifying goals and actions to take.

A sampling of findings:

• While Bloomington's cost burdened households declined since 2010, many neighborhoods are still paying more than 30% of their income to housing.
• The greatest shortage of units is for households making less than $25,000.
• Over the next decade, Bloomington will need an additional 2,592 units to support projected population growth.
• The number of available rental units is far below the estimated city vacancy rate.

The report recommended several actions, including 1) identifying policies for sharing risk on development of new affordable lots; 2) finding ways to streamline the development and approval process; 3) leveraging "opportunity sites" to expand housing options within the city; 4) encouraging new development in existing communities; and 5) developing a pool of funding for affordable housing.
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Chamber CEO Erin Predmore served on the steering committee for this study.

​Click here to read the full report.

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