Northwest Arkansas is growing fast and it is recognized as one of the best places to live and work in the country. The population has grown by 20% since 2010 and will approach 1 million people by 2045 (U.S. Census).
This success creates new challenges like greater price of housing that make it hard for people in the area to afford a good quality of life. The average cost of a house in NWA is $322,000, an increase of 22% since 2020. The need for housing that people can rent has also increased by 17% with only 2% of properties available to rent. (Arvest Bank Skyline Report, 2022). These prices are expected to increase by another 5% this year (National Association of Realtors).
Teachers, nurses, firefights, and workers have more difficulty finding affordable houses in the central corridor and near city amenities. You may have also struggled to find housing that meet the needs of you and your family in regards to space, safety, amenities, and access to city infrastructure. This can force people to find temporary solutions like living with other family or friends in crowded conditions, creating living spaces in garages or other shelters not approved as residences, or staying for short periods in hotels or other shelters.
The mission of Groundwork is to strengthen communities by expanding housing for working families near employment, commercial, and cultural centers in Northwest Arkansas.
In the past, the construction of houses has been based on the American model of homes or apartments for a couple of adults or a single family of two adults and a few children. These homes and apartments may not be good spaces for large families with grandparents, adult siblings and their children who want to live together or near each other.
The Hideaway | Allengrove is an example of efforts to create affordable housing to accommodate more people. These cottage-style houses were designed to be a pocket neighborhood in downtown Springdale.
The Northwest Arkansas Council is discussing other housing solutions such as developing lots with multiple structures for multi-generational families. Input from the Marshallese and Hispanic communities would really add to the ideas and search for solutions that work for different kinds of people.
Now is the time to envision and create the Northwest Arkansas that we all want for the future. Learn more about how you can contribute to the discussion at groundworknwa.org. You can go to Groundwork’s social media channels or ask to receive their newsletter for updates on NWA housing.
