It’s well documented that Bowling Green is in the midst of a housing shortage, particularly affordable housing.

So last week’s news that Warren County will receive more than $130 million for affordable housing units is a major blessing.

The funding is part of a $223 million project via a collaboration between the Kentucky Housing Corp. and the state Department of Local government.

“City staff recognized after the (2021 tornadoes) that affordable housing was our greatest need,” said Brent Childers, director of Neighborhood and Community Services for the City of Bowling Green. “We started (to) work with our (state) partners … to see how we can best address affordable housing using disaster recovery funds.”

The largest among the developments in Warren County will be a 256-unit complex – the Echo Trail Apartments, the location for which has not been determined.

The projects will be multi-family apartment complexes targeted at low- to middle-income individuals and families. Most of the units will be two to three bedrooms and rent prices will be controlled, ensuring affordability into the future.

Rent “would be much more affordable than the market provides,” Childers said.

The city will leverage $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help cover the local project costs. This money, appropriated by the Bowling Green City Commission, will cover two of the five planned developments in Warren County.

Additional funding will come through tax credits and bonds along with Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief money and funds from the HOME Investment Partnership Program.

Construction is expected to begin next spring.

That work will help quell the pains of the state’s fastest-growing housing market.

A recent Bowen National Research study, at the behest of the City of Bowling Green, shows that the number of households during the next five years in the city will increase by 4.7%, nearly six times the projected growth rate of the commonwealth of Kentucky.

The city is at 96.9% occupancy rate – the county at 97.6%.

That clearly shows housing is scarce.

All the more reason to be thankful for the upcoming projects.