POLITICS & ELECTIONS

Gov. Spencer Cox named co-chairman of National Housing Crisis Task Force

Aug 14, 2024, 11:41 AM

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a press conference as part of the National Governors Associatio...

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a press conference as part of the National Governors Association’s 2024 Summer Meeting held at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Isaac Hale, Deseret News)

(Isaac Hale, Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has joined a bipartisan National Housing Crisis Task Force that intends to inspire transformational change in U.S. housing policy.

Cox made the announcement on social media last week, saying he is honored to be a co-chairman of the group, which aims to “spark a national transformation in housing policy, from the ground up,” according to a statement from its website; the task force was launched by the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and Accelerator for America.

“Cities and states are leading the way and banding together to drive housing policy from the ground up,” Cox said in the post on the social platform X. “Together, we will work to bring innovations in housing production, preservation and finance to communities across the country.”

The task force’s July launch comes as individual states grapple with the affordable housing crisis. Housing is at its least affordable point in decades by almost any measure; almost 41 million households — nearly one-third — are cost-burdened, including more than half of renters and 19 million homeowners, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Cost burden

That cost burden grows for the lowest-income renters, with data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition showing that no state has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing.

There is a shortage of more than 7 million affordable homes for the nation’s 10.8 million-plus extremely low-income families, according to the coalition. Additionally, it found no states or counties where a renter working full time at minimum wage can afford a two-bedroom apartment.

The unaffordable housing crisis is a main driver in national spikes in homelessness, which jumped about 12% — 71,000 people — from 2022 to 2023. Of the 71,000 homeless people, more than 65,000 were also unsheltered, the highest number recorded since data collection began in 2007. That rising rate of homelessness is highest in states with the most severely cost-burdened renters, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

That tie has been seen clearly in Utah, with the state being ranked third in a list of least-affordable states to buy a home, according to an April report by BestBrokers.com. The report compared the state’s housing prices to the average Utahn’s income, earning its ranking just behind Hawaii and California. As Utah continues to see an affordable housing crisis, homelessness continues to rise — with 2023 seeing a 10% increase from the year prior.

‘Tough love’ approach

Frustration with the homeless crisis has grown as the Utah Legislature has allocated funding over the years. Recently, Cox and lawmakers have adopted a “tough love” approach.

A bill passed by this year’s Legislature replaced the 29-member Utah Homelessness Council with a nine-member board and changed the way funding is dispensed, placing more emphasis on service providers proving their success through data and benchmarks, among other things. More funding will go to “successful programs and providers” through the bill.

“It’s going to be really hard because some really great people are going to lose their funding. So either make sure what you’re doing is working or figure out something else to do really quickly,” Cox said in a June panel.

Cox’s selection as co-chairman of the task force, along with three other co-chairpersons — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Fifth Third Bank’s Susan Thomas — “personify the main thesis of the effort, namely that the next generation of housing policy in the U.S. is bubbling up from states, local governments, financial institutions and their allies rather than being designed in Washington think tanks or congressional committees,” according to the task force website.

The task force has been “months in the making” and held its first meeting in New York City last month. In addition to the co-chairs will be 24 other task force members comprised of individuals from public authorities and agencies, investors, housing advocates, owners, developers and managers, philanthropies and nonprofit intermediaries.

“Unfortunately, the federal government has offered few solutions: credit enhancements here, a blueprint there, but the real action is at the state and local level,” said Cox. “Cities and states are leading the way, and now we’re banding together to drive housing policy from the ground up.”

The goals

The goals of the task force, according to its website, include:

  • Identify innovative local, state and private sector housing policies and practices — across land, construction, capital, regulation and delivery — that have the highest potential for transformative and lasting impact.
  • Produce a platform and roadmap for scaling and replicating these innovations across the U.S. housing ecosystem, resulting in new policies, programs and products that produce and preserve housing across all income levels in every part of America.
  • Recommend changes to local, state and federal policies to deliver faster and better housing solutions at a lower cost across market-rate and subsidized-affordable housing developments.

KSL 5 TV Live

Politics & Elections

FILE - Utah State Capitol. (KSL TV)...

Brian Carlson

Local federal worker feels discouraged at work due to nationwide flux

Many are being encouraged to quit, and for those who don't, they don't know if they'll have a job if they stay. One federal worker in central Utah has had enough.

1 hour ago

FILE - A thick haze hangs over Manhattan in New York on July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, Fi...

Associated Press

22 states sue New York state, alleging environmental fund is unconstitutional

Twenty-two states sued New York state on Thursday, contending that a new law forcing a small group of major energy producers to pay $75 billion into a fund to cover climate change damage is unconstitutional.

3 hours ago

Utah's Capitol building during the 2025 legislative session on Feb. 4, 2025. (Andrew Adams, KSL TV)...

Daniel Woodruff

Proposal to ease eviction penalties in Utah dies in Senate committee

A Utah Senate committee voted to kill a proposal aimed at reducing penalties a renter can be required to pay when being evicted.

5 hours ago

Protesters in front of the Utah Capitol on Feb. 5, 2025 to protest President Donald Trump and Elon ...

Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com

‘We are the real patriots’: Utahns protest Donald Trump, Elon Musk outside Capitol

Hundreds of Utahns joined nationwide protests in opposition to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, one of Trump's top benefactors who has sought to gut federal agencies as a "special government employee."

7 hours ago

The Utah State Capitol stands in Salt Lake City on the first day of the legislative session on Tues...

Daniel Woodruff

No compromise: Utah Senate gives final approval to original version of labor union bill

The Utah Senate voted 16-13 to pass a controversial bill that bans collective bargaining for public sector unions.

9 hours ago

Jeff Kauffmann and other union members wait to hear discussion and voting on HB267...

Caitlyn Keith, Deseret News

Public labor union bill back to a complete ban on collective bargaining

After multiple changes were made to one of the most controversial bills of the 2025 legislative session, the latest House version of a public labor unions bill would once again completely prohibit public sector collective bargaining.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Gov. Spencer Cox named co-chairman of National Housing Crisis Task Force