The Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) told the committee it had completed a statewide housing needs assessment and a strategic action plan that lays out 27 strategies to add both affordable rental and for‑sale housing and to reduce regulatory barriers.

Scott Hoverson, executive director of WCDA, described core findings from a February 2024 needs assessment: strong price growth since 2021, decreased affordability for median households across counties by 2023, a shortage of 20,700–38,600 housing units projected through 2030, and more than 50,000 households earning below 100% of area median income facing housing problems such as cost burden or overcrowding.

WCDA described federal and state financing tools already in use: low‑income housing tax credits (LIHTC), HOME Investment Partnerships funds, National Housing Trust Fund allocations and WCDA bond mortgage programs for first‑time buyers (with down‑payment assistance up to $15,000). Matt Hall, WCDA legislative director, said those programs support rental production but that supply has not kept pace with projected demand: “Wyoming needs between 20,700 and 38,600 new housing units between 2025 and 2030; 2023 production was only 1,681 units.”

WCDA urged policy reforms that map to its action plan. Recommendations discussed with the committee included expanding the effective use of tax increment financing (TIF) to spur multifamily development, creating financing vehicles or low‑cost loans for developers and manufactured‑home community residents, easing regulatory barriers such as minimum lot sizes and parking requirements, and exploring reciprocity for skilled construction trades to relieve labor shortages.

A key WCDA priority is an ongoing statewide tracking mechanism and local policy lookup tool that gives municipalities options (menu of zoning reforms, parking/lot‑size adjustments) tailored by community size and economy. The committee was shown an online story map and an interactive local policy lookup developed by WCDA in partnership with consultants to make the strategies accessible to councils and county commissions.

Why it matters: Committee members heard that building enough housing is essential for economic growth, workforce recruitment and retaining young residents. WCDA and municipal witnesses said targeted state support, paired with local regulatory changes and work to expand contractor capacity, could increase housing production faster than market trends alone.

Ending: WCDA proposed follow‑up: regular updates to the needs assessment, a working group to pursue specific finance and zoning pilot projects, and coordination with the University of Wyoming and local governments to maintain a repository of successful local policies. The committee did not adopt specific legislation at this hearing but asked WCDA to return with narrower proposals for legislative consideration in November.