Housing grant will help fill big need in community

Ever since I moved to this community right out of college, there have been housing issues. When I was hired, I recall former newspaper owners Loral and Elna Johnson called around to find me a rental because, just like now several decades later, there was a severe shortage. They found me one in a home’s basement nearby, after a little pleading I’m sure.
        I’m not certain what the home-buying situation was then, but finding a place to rent was tough. But these days, finding rental property AND market-rate homes to buy is difficult.
        The city of Imperial gained a big step toward more housing the past week when it learned of a $1 million Rural Workforce Housing grant it received. With $500,000 added from local funds, a pool of $1.5 million in loan dollars will be created for which builders and developers can apply. Likely to have lower interest rates than what’s out there now, it should be an attractive incentive for more home and rental property construction.
    According to a recently-completed housing survey in Imperial, which garnered 191 responses, need for housing continues. Of those indicating they’re considering relocating in town, 89% could not due to lack of housing. People wanting to move here also have difficulty.
    An interesting fact that came out of the survey is that among the 191 responses, only 17 said they were looking for a residence priced more than $350,000. That’s what makes the recent grant realistic for our community—homes built with that money must not exceed the $350,000 price tag.
    The housing survey concluded that the housing shortage has not only continued but has become more dire. In addition to the housing grant that will help in that regard are several private efforts to increase housing here—including the WellPark project that will eventually add 14 homes and others building spec homes. All of