KHC Presents Pro-Growth Housing Strategies to Kentucky Housing Task Force

FRANKFORT, Kentucky — Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) representatives presented today at the first meeting of the reconvened Kentucky Housing Task Force, a special legislative committee formed to study the accessibility and affordability of housing in Kentucky.

Winston Miller, executive director and chief executive officer, and Wendy Smith, deputy executive director of housing programs, provided an overview of Kentucky’s housing landscape and solutions neighboring states have implemented to accelerate housing production.

The housing supply shortage in Kentucky, they said, is being driven by a combination of factors, including the loss of units due to natural disasters, heightened financial stress on homeowners and landlords, and increased construction costs due to tariffs and workforce shortages. Additionally, home prices and rent increases are outpacing income growth, making it difficult for people to afford housing, with higher interest rates and escalating insurance costs further exacerbating the issue. The possibility of diminishing federal support and a looming economic downturn could prolong the crisis.

Miller and Smith provided three recommendations for the Task Force to focus on:

• Modernize fees that fund the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund
• Establish a Kentucky Affordable Housing Tax Credit
• Create flexible resources that accelerate housing production

Flexible resources, they said, will move the market by incentivizing public-private partnerships that accelerate housing production across KY with a revolving loan fund, economic development tools, and employer-assisted housing.

If Kentucky managed to meet the housing needs, we would see lower average housing costs, higher homeownership rates, more workforce housing, increased housing stability, lower eviction rates, and fewer homeless Kentuckians.

The Housing Task Force was created in 2024 in response to housing shortages across the state. KHC presented twice last year to the committee — its Housing Supply Gap Analysis results as well as information about the corporation. The task force cited KHC’s study in its final report in November.

To see a recording of today’s meeting, which also included presentations from M. Nolan Gray (Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions) and Alex Horowitz (The Pew Charitable Trusts), visit KET’s livestream page. You also can view KHC’s PowerPoint presentation.

To learn more about the committee, including who the members are, visit the task force website.

Archived legislative coverage, including meetings of the Task Force, can be found on KET’s website.

The next meeting of the Kentucky Housing Task Force will be July 28, 2025.