Government officials and community members gather in Dover to learn of qualitative, quantitative, and projection data to solve the housing crisis

Delawareans, including government officials, nonprofit and for-profit partners, and service providers, joined the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) at POLYTECH Adult Education Center to hear preliminary findings from the 2023 Housing Needs Assessment report compiled by Root Policy Research.

Key findings from the report include:

  · Overall, 50% of renters in Delaware are cost-burdened, with 25,000 severely cost-burdened-paying more than 50% of their income in rent.

  · Since 2010, the homeownership rate has dropped for all age cohorts except seniors, with the most significant decline among ages 35 to 44, where the rate dropped from 71% to 63%.

  · The composition of the state's housing stock has changed little over time, with the most significant change being a 6,800 unit decrease in manufactured or mobile homes.

  · To keep up with household growth through 2030, the state will need to add 24,400 new units or an average of 2,400 units per year.

Key takeaways from the report include:

  · Securing additional funding and financing tools will be essential to addressing current housing shortages and meeting projected needs. Delaware has received unprecedented federal and state funding for housing in recent years, but more investment will be needed.

  · Planning and zoning changes are needed to ensure all Delawareans can access safe housing, regardless of income, age, location, or household size. Even with additional funding and resources, efforts to address the state's housing needs will be constrained unless state and local regulatory policies explicitly encourage the development of diverse housing types.

  · Cross-sector collaboration is crucial to making meaningful progress toward addressing the shortage of affordable units. This includes communication and cooperation among state and municipal governments as well as the private and nonprofit sectors.

To view the Delaware Housing Needs Assessment Executive Summary and event PowerPoint, visit: http://www.destatehousing.com/FormsAndInformation/needs.php The full report will be available later this fall.

This comprehensive report was completed using data collection and analysis of various housing sources, stakeholder interviews and focus groups with residents, community leaders, and housing advocates, and a resident survey.

The report aims to inform housing agencies and local jurisdictions in prioritizing housing and housing-related services, developing more targeted program and policy responses, and better coordinating federal, state, and local resources.

"Everyone deserves safe and affordable housing, but we know there is not enough housing stock, and home prices have excluded so many people from the market," said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. "Thousands of people in Delaware today are able to afford a roof over their head because of our state's housing authority working hand in glove with partners - including federal programs your congressional delegation works so hard to protect - to make Delaware a great place to live. I will keep working to ensure everyone has an affordable and safe place they can call home." 

"The 2023 Housing Needs Assessment report findings are a stark reminder that the housing crisis in Delaware is real, and it is urgent," said Matthew Heckles, HUD Regional Administrator. "My team and I in HUD's Region 3 are committed to working with our state and local partners to secure additional funding and financing tools for affordable housing." 

"We know that affordable housing must be a priority for our state," said Governor Carney. "We have a lot of work to do, but we are moving in the right direction. We are making historic investments in housing throughout Delaware, and the data collected in the Housing Needs Assessment will help us to identify the most effective solutions. I want to thank the Delaware State Housing Authority and all of our partners for their efforts." 

"Together, I'm confident that we can make Delaware the perfect place to live for all current and future residents," said Eugene Young, Jr., Director of DSHA. "I want to thank Root Policy Research and the DSHA staff for their hard work today and over the past few months. We are proud of this report and can't wait for the full release later this fall." 

About Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, provides quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State's Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it serves as a Public Housing Authority and a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own, and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware's three counties. For more information about DSHA, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit destatehousing.com. .com.

About Root Policy Research

Root Policy Research is a women-owned housing policy consulting firm that specializes in housing needs assessments, housing market analyses, and analyses of barriers to housing choice. The Root Policy team has been conducting housing research for more than 25 years in a diverse set of markets. For more information about Root Policy, see www.rootpolicy.com .