housing
Safe, decent, and affordable housing continues to be a critical issue in the Ozarks. Like most complex issues in our community, housing needs and solutions exist on a spectrum, housing impacts and is impacted by many overlapping systems, and each resident has their own personal story of how housing has influenced their life.
key metrics
33%
Of income went to housing for the typical renter household in 2024.
That's above the 30% mark where housing is considered unaffordable. Homeowners spent about 25% in 2024.
410
Affordable rental units could lose their income limits by 2031
36 of those units are set to expire this year alone.
2026 report
The Springfield Ozarks has grown past 500,000 residents, and housing hasn't kept pace. Local programs are putting ownership within reach, and Springfield Community Land Trust homeowners start out with nearly 30% equity. Meeting the region's need will take longer commitments to affordability and planning that connects housing to jobs and transportation across the region.
Heightened Attention on Housing Quality
In the Community Focus Report catchment area there continues to be Heightened Attention on Housing Quality through public attention and community planning.
Non-profit programs like Restore SGF and Habitat for Humanity provide support for home restoration to address Springfield’s aging housing stock, although these funds are sensitive to funding and contractor availability.
Dynamic Programs to Support Home Ownership
The community continues to invest in Dynamic Programs to Support Home Ownership. Drew Lewis Foundation's Blue House Project and RISE program supports affordable home ownership.
Since 2013, the Springfield Community Land Trust has created equitable pathways to homeownership through permanent housing affordability.
Collaboration
Springfield and the surrounding communities exhibit a strong commitment to Community Collaboration. Collaboration happens between local governments and agencies through funding support.
Recent housing and emergency shelter development projects have only been possible through cross system support, including Sankofa apartment complex (supported by the City of Springfield’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit funds), Drew Lewis’ Broadway Cottage Courtyard (supported by the City of Springfield for storm water mitigation), and new emergency shelters constructed by Crosslines, The Kitchen,Inc., Salvation Army, and Victory Mission.
Collaboration happens between agencies through community planning in initiatives like Community Partnership’s Housing Collaborative, New Day, and Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness (OAEH).
Lack of Accessible Housing
Accessible housing refers to the physical design of housing and how it meets the needs of different populations.
Historically accessible housing has referred to housing designed for people with physical disabilities, but everyone can benefit from these design choices.
Lack of Affordable Housing
Addressing the affordability gap primarily happens through supporting a housing developer with incentives to build affordable housing and through supporting individuals/families directly with rental subsidies; both of these systems rely heavily on federal funding which has become more unstable over the last two years as federal priorities have shifted.
According to the most recent Unsheltered Report conducted by CPO and MSU in 2024, 69% of participants who were sleeping somewhere not meant for human habitation reported having at least one disabling condition, although only 23% of those disabled individuals were receiving disability benefits of any kind. Even if a single individual was receiving the maximum monthly Social Security Insurance benefit of $994, the federal Fair Market Rent (federal cost estimate of cost of standard rental housing and utilities)for Springfield is $883.
Intersectionality of Housing and Poverty
According to the ACS, 18.4% of Springfield residents are living in poverty. Inequality has negative impacts on community and individual health for everyone. This intersection impacts several red flags identified in other chapters of this report.
The shortage of affordable housing makes it more difficult for people who are experiencing homelessness to obtain housing and makes it more difficult for anyone who has housing to maintain their housing stability.
