Lawmakers hear unified warnings that Minnesota faces a nearly 100,000‑unit housing shortfall and falling affordability

Mark Foster, vice president of legislative and political affairs at Housing First Minnesota, told the Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention that Minnesota is facing a deep supply shortfall that is making homeownership and rental housing less affordable.

"Today, statewide, we are nearly a hundred thousand units short of a healthy housing market," Foster said, and he warned that the homes being built are increasingly unattainable: "The median new single family detached house has now gone north of $530,000 in the state." Foster and other presenters said zoning and local approval processes — especially heavy reliance on negotiated planned unit developments (PUDs) — add cost and delay to new housing.

The committee heard similar data and experiences from a cross‑section of stakeholders. Elizabeth Wafel, speaking for the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, told lawmakers that many smaller cities can show land for development but lack the…