Mayor Deb Whitfield has announced the creation of the Housing Ready Task Force, a group designed to address the city’s housing challenges and create a sustainable path forward.
This initiative builds on her commitment, shared during her State of the City Address on April 23, to make Lawrence a housing-ready city.
The Task Force includes a diverse mix of community leaders and experts: Lawrence City Council members Liz Masur and Tyrrell Giles, affordable housing expert Alison Cole, MIBOR Realtor Association’s director of political affairs Lacey Everett, Realtor Judy Dages and Interim Public Works director Renea Rafala, who will serve as an ex-officio member. Coordination will be led by Jim Perron, director of communications for Fund Development. Whitfield indicated that additional members may be added as the Task Force’s work progresses.
The initiative comes as housing availability and affordability remain pressing issues in Indiana and beyond. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Indiana faces a deficit of more than 135,000 affordable rental units for extremely low-income households. Lawrence, as a growing and diverse city, faces its share of challenges in meeting the demand for affordable and workforce housing while encouraging sustainable development.
The Task Force will examine existing policies, identify gaps in housing availability, and propose strategies to ensure that Lawrence can support various housing types, including affordable, workforce and market-rate options. By bringing together public officials, housing experts and community representatives, the city aims to create a framework that will address housing needs equitably and sustainably.
Whitfield emphasized her commitment to this effort during her recent address, calling for collaborative solutions that reflect the needs of the entire Lawrence community.
For more information, visit cityoflawrence.org.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
