HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Henry County is facing a significant housing shortage, and city leaders are making it a priority to address the issue.
Brandon Martin, the county’s public information officer, emphasized the need for housing at all price points, particularly new developments, to prevent residents from leaving the area.
“People did want us to improve the look and overall character of Henry County. Part of that being our housing stock, so with that, they want more housing, more affordable housing, and just lots of different options to be able to play with,” Martin said. “That all kind of coincides to our conclusion that we need to start investing in housing more,” he added.
The lack of new housing developments has also impacted local businesses.
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Rives Coleman, principal broker at Rives S. Brown Realtor, noted the challenges in attracting young couples and families who prefer newer homes. “When you’re trying to attract young couples here or families here that do not like older homes… It’s a lot of work to try to find something to make them happy,” Coleman said.
Despite the challenges, Henry County has seen some progress with relatively new housing projects, such as the School Drive Apartments, which were completed in 2023. Additionally, two workforce housing projects are currently under construction and are expected to open early next year.
The housing crisis became evident as the county began developing its new comprehensive plan.
Martin stated that the plan, set to be completed next year, will outline the necessary steps to meet the housing demand and is expected to be adopted in spring 2026.