Study: Columbus faces shortage of affordable, middle-income housing

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A Georgia Tech study presented to the Columbus City Council on Tuesday found that the city faces a growing shortage of affordable and available housing — especially for middle-income residents — as the region expands its economic development efforts.

Senior Economic Developer Alan Durham with Georgia Tech said the issue has become a key obstacle to attracting new jobs and industry.

“Workforce housing is economic development,” Durham told council members. “You can’t attract new jobs if you don’t have a place for those workers to live.”

The study examined housing data across six counties, including Muscogee, Lee, and Russell counties.

The region’s median household income is about $58,500, meaning an affordable home would cost roughly $155,000 — a price point where desirable homes are increasingly rare in Columbus.

“We’re not talking about low-income or subsidized housing,” Durham added. “We’re talking about middle-class working families who can no longer afford to purchase a home.”

As Columbus works to attract new industry through its Choose Columbus initiative, local leaders warn that the city’s housing market could struggle to keep up.

This summer, a South Korean magnet manufacturer announced plans to bring more than 500 jobs to the area with a median salary near $90,000.

Ben Moser, president of the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, said preparing the city’s housing supply is critical as new projects take shape.

“We need to make sure we have enough workforce and affordable housing for the influx of workers we’re likely to have if we’re successful in economic development over the next five to ten years,” Moser said.

Despite ongoing construction, city data shows Columbus has only permitted 191 single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes and 134 apartment units so far this year — far short of the demand.

The $130,000 study, funded through a partnership between public and private organizations led by the United Way, aims to guide city leaders as they address the region’s housing gap.