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Kentucky lawmakers look for ways to ease housing shortage

Associated Press

Experts say the state was short by more than 206,000 units in 2024. If a solution isn't found to slow the trend, that number is expected to jump to 287,000 by 2029.

State Representative Josh Bray is proposing allowing local governments to establish housing development districts, giving tax breaks and flexibility on planning and zoning rules to developers.

"Local governments can identify the places that growth needs to happen the most, and now we're giving them the tool to incentivise development there," said Bray.

Legislators are also looking at a bill that would let local governments create residential districts and issue bonds to help developers offset the costs of infrastructure for housing projects.

Bowen National Research conducts housing analysis across the country. Company President Patrick Bowen told lawmakers, their studies project the housing gap for low-income Kentuckians, particularly renters, will worsen across the state.