Some issues are so big that no single person, or even single organization, can tackle them.
Take workforce housing for example.
On Thursday night the Macon County Economic Development Commission heard from representatives of the Southwestern Commission regarding the need for workforce housing and how to potentially build such infrastructure using federal tax credits.
Russ Harris and Carolina LaFrenier pointed out in their presentation that Western North Carolina is experiencing a population boom with 16 percent population growth in the past 20 years and a projected 26 percent growth over the next 30 years.
Harris pointed out that having population growth is a good thing, but a growing population requires more services, more services require more businesses and thus more employees. Having affordable housing for working class families is going to be critical over the next 30 years if the region is going to be able to handle the anticipated growth.
The median home price in Macon County was $314,000 for 2019 and that number is continuing to rise, according to Harris. He noted that the Highlands market skews the statistics drastically, as home prices on the plateau are significantly higher than those in Franklin, Otto and other communities in the county.
While building low-income housing can be an option for larger communities it’s unlikely that such a project would be feasible in Highlands due to land availability issues and costs, meaning Highlands may find itself becoming even more dependent on workers who live in surrounding areas and commute.
So what’s the answer?
There is no one size fits all solution, but it’s going to start with governments working together to build affordable multi-family housing in locations that benefit multiple communities. The Town of Highlands, Macon County and the Southwestern Commission will need to be involved in the planning and development of affordable housing no matter the site.
It will undoubtedly be a long process, but adding affordable housing for working people can’t wait. Employers in Highlands need workers, and workers need a place they can afford to call home.