Owning a home in Kentucky changed my life. I want that for you, too.
Homeownership became the foundation for my future success. I want to ensure others have the same opportunities.
The ability to own a home allows families to focus on education, careers and wealth-building. Unfortunately, this dream is slipping further out of reach for many Americans. In the U.S., we face a housing shortage of more than 4.5 million homes. High mortgage rates and reduced housing inventory have led to skyrocketing prices. In my own state of Kentucky, too many families are priced out of homeownership. In some areas, median home sale prices are now nearly five times median household incomes — up from less than three times 30 years ago.
Recent reports from the Kentucky Housing Corporation ('KHC') and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce underscore the urgency of this crisis. KHC identifies a housing shortage driven by high construction costs, restrictive zoning, limited funding and a diminished post-recession builder base. Natural disasters have compounded the problem. Thousands have been displaced, overwhelming the existing local supply. The Kentucky Chamber's 2024 report further frames housing as key to economic growth, calling for reforms in zoning, infrastructure investment, workforce development and tax incentives.
Rand Paul: I can't support a bill with the largest debt increase in US history | Opinion
While Kentucky has made strides in addressing the housing crisis, achieving lasting progress requires collaboration. Organizations like the Kentucky Chamber, KHC, the Kentucky Bankers Association and Bluegrass Community Bankers Association need to join forces with the public sector. Collaborating with Gov. Andy Beshear and the state legislature is crucial to solving this issue.
Here are several strategies implemented in other states for Kentucky to consider:
Zoning and permitting reforms: Outdated zoning laws restrict housing supply. By modernizing these regulations and streamlining permits, states like Tennessee, Montana and Florida have sped up construction and increased housing availability.
Increasing housing development funding: Expanding programs like the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and creating a state Low-Income Housing Tax Credit can incentivize developers to build homes that working families can afford. States like Indiana have seen success with initiatives such as the Residential Infrastructure Assistance Program, which created a revolving loan fund to support infrastructure improvements necessary for residential development and incentivize pro-building zoning reform.
The Kentucky Chamber is currently collaborating with the Kentucky League of Cities, KHC and Home Builders Association to advocate for a similar program.
Opinion: Kentucky bourbon raking in money doesn't mean we can ignore alcohol's risks
Addressing construction costs: The rising costs of building materials must be tackled by working with suppliers and adopting new technologies that reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Other states, like Texas, have utilized modular construction techniques and prefab homes to reduce building costs and expedite construction.
Workforce development: A skilled labor shortage in construction hampers housing development. Investing in workforce training programs can help build the talent necessary for homebuilding projects. Programs like those in Ohio, which have partnered with community colleges to train the next generation of builders and skilled laborers, have proven successful.
Fostering private sector innovation: By partnering with private sector innovators using modular homes and 3D printing, Kentucky can explore cost-effective, efficient housing solutions. In places like rural Texas and towns across Oklahoma, these innovative approaches have helped create affordable housing options at a fraction of the typical cost.
Kentucky's housing crisis demands decisive, unified action. Public and private sectors must work together to make homeownership attainable across the commonwealth.
Just as it changed the trajectory of my own family, stable housing can offer Kentuckians the foundation they need to thrive. With smart investment and shared commitment, we can close the gap and secure a better future for all.
Tell us what you think. Submit your letter to the editor.
Independent board director and business leader, William 'Bill' Jones, is an inspired idea creator and positive change maker. He is a member of the Kentucky Housing Corporation board and former chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. A former public company CEO and CFO, Bill has been serving on multiple boards in diverse industries, from banking and health care to utilities.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky homes for sale reveals affordability crisis | Opinion
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Texas Democrats flee state amid heated redistricting battle. Has this happened before?
WASHINGTON - A president jumping out of a window, a senator carried feet-first from their office, and state legislators moving into an out-of-state hotel: For as long as Americans have been legislating, they've been fleeing from legislatures to prevent votes from happening. Texas House Democrats fled the Lone Star State on Aug. 3 in an attempt to block a redistricting that would give Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives up to five more seats in the 2026 midterms. The Democrats dispersed to friendly blue states: Many traveled to the Chicago area in Illinois, greeted by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, while other groups landed in Boston, Massachusetts and Albany, New York. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to expel any Democrat who was not back in Austin by the time the legislature reconvened Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. CT. Republicans need what is called a quorum, or the minimum number of lawmakers needed to be present on the floor to carry out business. But the tactic of fleeing to deny quorum is one that's been used by both parties since the 1800s. Some lawmakers have hid out in their offices, while others have fled their state to avoid being compelled to show up to vote, as is the case with Texas Democrats. These are some of the most prominent examples from history. 1840: Abraham Lincoln jumps out of a first-floor window Before Abraham Lincoln served as president, he was a member of the Illinois state legislature from 1834 to 1842. He once jumped out of a first-floor window to try to prevent a quorum on a vote to shut down a state-run bank in 1840, according to The New York Times. Lincoln, a member of the Whig Party at the time, was an advocate of the state-run bank while his Democratic colleagues were not, the Times reported. Samuel Wheeler, who is the llinois state historian, told the Times that Lincoln had already been marked present for the quorum, making his effort pointless. 'It's not an episode that he's very proud of later,' Wheeler said. 1988: Bob Packwood carried into the chamber Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood, a Republican, tried to avoid a quorum call in February 1988 amid opposition to a Democratic-driven campaign finance reform bill, according to the U.S. Senate. He hid in his office until Capitol police later found him. The New York Times reported that Packwood had placed a chair against one door to prevent the officers from forcing it open. 'It was their mass against my mass,' he said at the time. The officers entered Packwood's office through another door, and they 'transported him feet-first into the Chamber,' the U.S. Senate website says. 2003: Texas Democrats protest redistricting effort Texas Democrats fled the state in 2003 to break quorum over Republican redistricting efforts. House Democrats went to Oklahoma until the regular session of the legislature ended, the Texas Tribune reported. Eleven Democratic state senators went to New Mexico after former Gov. Rick Perry called a special session, according to the Tribune. Then Democratic Sen. John Whitmire returned to Texas, officially allowing Republicans to advance with their redistricting plans after reaching a quorum. 2011: Wisconsin Democrats challenge anti-union bill Wisconsin Democrats fled their state in February 2011 in an attempt to block a budget-repair bill that would curtail collective bargaining rights from public employee unions, though the bill still ended up passing, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The lawmakers went to Illinois, but stayed at different places due to security concerns. When they returned in March, nearly 70,000 trade union and Democratic supporters greeted them at Capitol Square, according to The Guardian. 2011: Indiana Democrats flee to Comfort Suites in Illinois Indiana Democrats fled their state 14 years ago to halt legislative business and challenge the passage of a controversial anti-union legislation, The Daily Illini reported. They headed to the Comfort Suites hotel in Urbana, Illinois, on Feb. 22 that year and didn't return to their home state until March 28, the paper reported. Their bill total came out to be over $84,000 dollars. 'It was a very difficult decision - very difficult - and it got more difficult every day,' State Representative Ed DeLaney, who fled with his colleagues, told The New York Times in an interview. 'You only have so much ammunition, and this is a way to spend an awful lot of your ammunition on one point, and draw a lot of criticism in the process.' Contributing: Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Sparks MAGA Backlash With New Warning to States Over Israel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Trump administration drew the fury of some of the president's staunchest supporters when it announced that it would deny federal disaster funds to states and cities that boycott Israeli companies. Why It Matters Monday's rule regarding Federal Emergency Management Agency funds covers at least $1.9 billion in federal grants that states depend on for search‑and‑rescue gear, emergency management salaries, backup power systems and other essentials, according to 11 FEMA grant notices reviewed by Reuters. It marks the Trump administration's latest move to leverage federal funding to advance its stance on Israel, but it also sparked sharp scrutiny from many Trump supporters. The blowback highlights a broader fissure within the Republican Party between hawkish lawmakers who support sending more aid and weapons to Israel and isolationist MAGA influencers who oppose the U.S. becoming more involved in conflicts in the Middle East. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on August 3, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on August 3, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP What To Know Monday's order drew immediate blowback from many of Trump's most faithful MAGA supporters, many of whom have repeatedly criticized Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza. "Denying Americans who won't support the genocide being conducted by your friends," conservative commentator Candace Owens wrote on X. "Trump has fully betrayed America for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and if you cannot see that now you are completely blind." "Best 100 million Miriam Adelson ever spent," Owens added, referring to the Republican megadonor and widow of billionaire Sheldon Adelson. "This cannot be real," far-right activist Milo Yiannopoulos, who has been accused of making racist and Islamophobic statements, wrote on X. The Hodgetwins, a conservative political commentary duo made up of twin brothers Keith and Kevin Hodge, wrote on X: "Is this America first?" A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement: "There is no FEMA requirement tied to Israel in any current [Notice of Funding Opportunity. No states have lost funding, and no new conditions have been imposed. "FEMA grants remain governed by existing law and policy and not political litmus tests," they added. "DHS will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanctions) movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism. Those who engage in racial discrimination should not receive a single dollar of federal funding." Monday's order comes after prominent figures in the MAGA movement spoke out in May against the bipartisan IGO Anti-Boycott Act, saying it would criminalize boycotts and free speech against Israel. A pending vote on the measure was canceled after the backlash. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia came out strongly against the bipartisan bill, saying in part that "it is my job to defend American's rights to buy or boycott whomever they choose without the government harshly fining them or imprisoning them." Greene recently became the first congressional Republican to refer to Israel's actions in Gaza as a "genocide." Newsweek reached out to Greene's office for comment on Monday. Israel has also vehemently denied carrying out a genocide in Gaza and said Hamas is to blame for recent reports of widespread starvation throughout the besieged territory. What People Are Saying Robert McCaw, the head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Government Affairs arm, in a statement: "The Trump administration's demand that American cities and states threatened by natural disasters must not boycott Israeli companies involved in war crimes in order to receive federal support is patently unconstitutional and un-American. "It's also ludicrous: under the Trump administration's new rule, American states and cities can boycott any country in the world over its human rights abuses – even America itself – but not Israel. This is not an America First policy. This is an Israel First policy and it must not stand." A spokesperson for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement to Reuters: "DHS will enforce all antidiscrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the [Boycott, Divest and Sanctions] movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism." What Happens Next Monday's move from the Trump administration is largely symbolic, since at least 34 states have anti-BDS policies in place, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal.
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Texas redistricting war escalates across the country
The decision by Texas Democrats to flee the state has ratcheted up tensions and started a new phase in the redistricting war around the country. Democrats from the Lone Star State's legislature fled to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts starting Sunday to avoid giving Republicans the quorum needed to pass a highly unusual effort for partisan, mid-decade redistricting that could benefit them in next year's midterms. In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered the arrest of the 'delinquent' Democrats, not long after Republicans in the state House passed a motion directing officials to bring them back to the state under warrant. 'Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,' Abbott said in a statement Monday afternoon. 'By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty.' The rapidly escalating tit-for-tat underscores how the redistricting battle has turned into an all-out national brawl ahead of what both parties expect to be a fiercely fought midterm election. 'Let's be clear, this is not just rigging the system in Texas,' Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) told reporters on Sunday, flanked by Texas Democrats. 'It's about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come.' The Texas Democrats' decision to break quorum — or the minimum number of lawmakers needed in order to conduct business in the legislature — came as Republicans look to advance an even friendly GOP congressional map that could net them five additional seats ahead of next year. The redistricting move was encouraged by President Trump as Republicans brace for an unfavorable political environment next year — and the possibility of Democratic investigations into his administration if the party loses the House. Democrats have portrayed the redistricting effort as a naked power grab by Republicans. The current map, authored by a Republican-dominated statehouse in 2021, gives Republicans 65 percent of the state congressional seats — a sizable advantage over the 55 percent of the state electorate who votes for the party. But if Trump gets the five additional seats he wants, that advantage would expand to 80 percent of the state's congressional House caucus — a 25-percent advantage secured with no additional need for persuasion. A Texas House panel advanced the House map last week, teeing it up for a floor vote. With Democrats out of the state, however, the efforts to pass the new map are temporarily stalled. In addition to the threats of arrest, Abbott also said he would strip lawmakers who failed to return to the state Capitol of their seats. Texas lawmakers already incur a daily $500 fine and threat of arrest for breaking quorum, and Abbott previously threatened them with bribery charges if national Democrats pick up the tab. 'Texans don't run from a fight — they face it head on,' Abbott wrote on X. 'These Texas Democrats that fled the state are not serving Texans. They are serving themselves. They forfeited their seats and are facing potential felony charges.' Speaking to reporters in Illinois on Sunday, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said they didn't make the decision lightly to leave the state, but added that this was 'absolutely the right thing to do to protect the people of the state of Texas.' Democratic leaders from across the country were quick to join in the fight. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has said he's weighing several options, including through a ballot measure or through the state legislature, over how to proceed as the Golden State eyes redrawing its own maps in response to Texas. Pritzker has vowed to protect lawmakers who traveled to his state from the threat of arrest from top Texas leaders. And while hosting several Texas Democrats in her state on Monday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said she will explore different options available to redraw her state's maps. 'We're sick and tired of being pushed around when other states don't have the same aspirations that we always have had, and I hold those dear, but I cannot ignore that the playing field has changed dramatically,' Hochul said. 'And shame on us if we ignore that fact and cling tight to the vestiges of the past. That era is over.' The support from national Democrats, and the threats of arrest, mark a sea change from when Texas Democrats last left the state when Republicans engaged in mid-cycle redistricting in 2003. The decision then also occurred in response to a then-unprecedented mid-decade redistricting push by Republicans, which eventually transformed the state's congressional delegation from a comfortably Democratic majority to two-to-one Republican dominance — and locked in the GOP's generational control over the state legislature. The latest Texas battle comes as redistricting has become increasingly normalized by both sides. When Republicans took the state House for the first time in 2002, they took power despite generations of redistricting by the state's long-dominant Democratic majority — giving weight to arguments that they deserved their own stab at drawing new lines, Southern Methodist University historian Cal Jillson said. While Democrats have rebuked Texas GOP leaders for gerrymandering an already Republican-favored House map, the party has also been criticized for doing the same in states like New York and Illinois, both of which have hosted Texas lawmakers. In fact, a court struck down a map passed by New York Democrats in 2022 over partisan gerrymandering, mandating a court-appointed special master to draw the House lines instead. The broader redistricting tit-for-tat has also prompted a reversal among some Democrats around redistricting commissions, which were created with the intent to distance lawmakers from the process of drawing maps. At the same time, the redistricting battle has also created fissures within the GOP, some of whom are against mid-cycle redistricting. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) is introducing legislation that would block new House maps from being implemented ahead of the next U.S. Census in 2030, though notably a statement from the California Republican only invoked Newsom. But the Republican argument that Texas redistricting is their means of addressing what they call an unfair national map marks how much things have changed. Unlike in 2003, 'you can't make the argument' that Republican redistricting is redressing an unfair map in Texas, Jillson said, because the gerrymandered maps the state GOP is now trying to redraw are ones that state Republicans drew just four years ago. Abbott and the majority of state congressional Republicans opposed redistricting, which they worried would threaten their seats — until Trump applied pressure, The Texas Tribune reported. 2024 Election Coverage Republicans also say there are risks involved, too, if Abbott tries to oust Democrats from their offices. 'So you take 'em out of office and you have elections, then you still don't have a quorum. Then you kind of basically shot yourself in the foot,' explained lobbyist and political consultant Bill Miller, who served on state Rep. Tom Craddick's (R) transition team in 2003 when Craddick was Texas House Speaker — and the architect of that year's bitter redistricting fight. 'The only thing that I would say from my experience is these wounds that are created by these fights don't heal easily, and they're remembered,' he said. 'A long time in ways that people forget.'
