The housing crisis is a top issue for New Hampshire voters, and there’s a new effort at the State House to make sure lawmakers get the message.The New Hampshire Housing Supply Coalition is calling for action this year and beyond.The coalition launched to help make the push for change, calling on lawmakers to act on three policy pillars: land use reform, regulatory and permitting reform, and housing program funding support.”There is no silver bullet. There is no one bill or issue that’s going to fix this,” said Michael Skelton, of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire. “We’re going to need action across all three of these pillars in 2025 and in all the years ahead.”>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<The New Hampshire Association of Realtors said that 10 years ago, there were more than 13,000 homes for sale across the state in the summer months. Last summer, that figure didn’t reach 2,500.Change won’t be easy, with organizers saying that the state’s involvement in land use policy generates the most debate.”Too often, town governments restrict the ability to build on smaller lot sizes,” said Susan Cole, of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. “We have to allow more density, which will then lower costs while preserving the state’s open spaces.”The coalition said the high cost of housing is a compounding problem, acting as a barrier for the young people New Hampshire’s economy needs to attract and retain.”The value proposition of New Hampshire, even 10 years ago, looked like we were the cost-effective option to Boston,” said Corinne Benfield, of Stay Work Play New Hampshire. “That’s really not the case anymore.”Housing costs also squeeze out the workforce.”I’ll give you an example of one of the hospitals that is my member,” said Wendy Hunt, of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. “They can’t keep doctors that they are recruiting because they live in hotels for months, and then they leave because they can’t find housing.”The coalition said that doing nothing or settling for working around the margins of the issue will have serious consequences.”We will not be able to compete economically,” Skelton said.
The housing crisis is a top issue for New Hampshire voters, and there’s a new effort at the State House to make sure lawmakers get the message.
The New Hampshire Housing Supply Coalition is calling for action this year and beyond.
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The coalition launched to help make the push for change, calling on lawmakers to act on three policy pillars: land use reform, regulatory and permitting reform, and housing program funding support.
“There is no silver bullet. There is no one bill or issue that’s going to fix this,” said Michael Skelton, of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire. “We’re going to need action across all three of these pillars in 2025 and in all the years ahead.”
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
The New Hampshire Association of Realtors said that 10 years ago, there were more than 13,000 homes for sale across the state in the summer months. Last summer, that figure didn’t reach 2,500.
Change won’t be easy, with organizers saying that the state’s involvement in land use policy generates the most debate.
“Too often, town governments restrict the ability to build on smaller lot sizes,” said Susan Cole, of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. “We have to allow more density, which will then lower costs while preserving the state’s open spaces.”
The coalition said the high cost of housing is a compounding problem, acting as a barrier for the young people New Hampshire’s economy needs to attract and retain.
“The value proposition of New Hampshire, even 10 years ago, looked like we were the cost-effective option to Boston,” said Corinne Benfield, of Stay Work Play New Hampshire. “That’s really not the case anymore.”
Housing costs also squeeze out the workforce.
“I’ll give you an example of one of the hospitals that is my member,” said Wendy Hunt, of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. “They can’t keep doctors that they are recruiting because they live in hotels for months, and then they leave because they can’t find housing.”
The coalition said that doing nothing or settling for working around the margins of the issue will have serious consequences.
“We will not be able to compete economically,” Skelton said.