Delaware’s Housing Crisis: Task Force Navigates Complex Solutions

Delaware is facing an escalating housing shortage, and the state’s newly formed Affordable Housing Production Task Force is working to address this urgent issue. While Delaware has long been grappling with the complexities of affordable housing, the problem has grown more pressing due to the rapid population growth and rising costs of residential development.

The task force, composed of policymakers, advocacy groups, and trade associations, is exploring ways to increase the state’s housing supply. One of the primary focuses is expanding the availability of affordable housing across the entire spectrum of income levels. However, achieving this goal will require navigating longstanding challenges in local zoning, building regulations, and state policies.

The Need for Action

According to David Edgell, Director of Delaware’s State Office of Planning Coordination, a significant change occurred during the pandemic when developers pulled building permits and began constructing far more housing units than the state had seen in previous years. This surge in construction signals growing interest in Delaware, but it also highlights a fundamental problem:

• Most of the state’s new housing is being built as single-family homes, which aren’t affordable for a significant portion of the population.

Delaware’s housing market is seeing shortages at both ends of the price spectrum. While the lack of affordable units for low-income households garners the most attention, the shortage of units affordable to high-income individuals has a trickle-down effect that exacerbates the problem.

Caitlin Del Collo, Chief Strategic Advisor at the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), states,

“There’s a shortage on both ends of the market, and that’s why we need to increase supply at all levels. We can’t just focus on units for the low-income, we need a more balanced approach.”

Zoning and Local Control: Key Issues

A primary obstacle to increasing Delaware’s housing supply is the state’s outdated zoning laws. The century-old zoning system, which treats detached single-family homes as the default in most residential areas, is limiting developers’ ability to build affordable housing options like duplexes, townhouses, or multifamily units.

• Zoning rules often result in months or years of delays for developers seeking approval from local zoning boards, contributing to the housing shortage.

A Glimmer of Hope: Time for Solutions

Despite the challenges, both Edgell and Del Collo remain hopeful that time will allow communities to understand the possibilities for increasing housing supply.

• “Time, I think, is a really helpful ingredient in getting communities to understand what the possibilities are,” said Del Collo, reflecting on the slow but steady momentum of the task force’s work.

Edgell shares this optimism, noting that local governments may already have the tools they need to encourage more diverse housing types.

• Local governments can adjust zoning codes to make room for denser, more affordable housing options that will better serve Delawareans at every income level.

Partisan Politics and the Future of Housing in Delaware

As Delaware’s task force continues its work, the broader political climate around housing policy could complicate efforts.

• Housing policy has become a contentious issue nationwide, with some political figures opposing zoning reforms and density increases.
• While Delaware’s housing discussions have remained bipartisan, there’s concern that partisan tensions could arise, particularly as the state’s 2024 gubernatorial election heats up.

The task force is set to report its findings and recommendations to Delaware’s next governor in March 2025, but the road to solving the state’s housing crisis is far from clear. Regardless of the outcome, stakeholders remain committed to finding solutions that will meet the urgent demand for affordable housing while navigating the complex landscape of state and local politics.