Elkhart Mayor plans to speak on housing in the city at the state of the city address

ELKHART, Ind. -- On Thursday, the Lerner Theater will host the 2026 State of the City Address. Mayor Rod Roberson plans to focus on all that the city accomplished in 2025 as well as future plans for this year.

The housing situation is one of the main priorities in his address tonight.

Mayor Roberson explains, “Livability and housing is obviously number one that helps to create what we do with quality of place and one quality of life. And what that means is literally making Elkhart attractive enough, and the experience and the experiences that you have here in Elkhart are those that you want to make sure that you enjoy over and over and over again.”

The event is open to the public and will start at 5:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5 p.m.

During Roberson's time as Mayor, he has been able to bring housing to the river district area, but the overall goal is to bring livability to all aspects of the city, with budgets suited for everyone.

He says, “I think that there is a sense of anxiety to some degree outside of the city of Elkhart, and it actually permeates us in some in different ways. But what I want to do is make sure that we provide us a very stable way that we understand that this is what Elkhart is going to do, and this is how it impacts the city and the people who live within it.”