Mayor Stutsman appointed to state Housing Task Force

GOSHEN, Ind. -- Mayor Jeremy Stutsman has been appointed by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch to be a member of the Indiana Housing Task Force, where he will serve by helping find ways to improve the access to housing in the state.

Mayor Stutsman will serve representing local elected officials through Indiana Accelerate Municipalities.

Other members on the taskforce include a bipartisan selection of lawmakers, as well as advocates for renters, landlords and homeowners.

Tackling the housing shortage is not new to the Mayor.

In the last couple of years, Goshen has only had about a dozen houses for sale at any given time, in a community of 34,000 people.

“It’s an honor to serve with the others on the statewide task force. I look forward to sharing the successes Goshen has had and learning from others what we can do to better our housing stock," Mayor Stutsman said.

The Indiana Legislature established the task force earlier in March 2022, seeking that the group:

•             Review data on housing shortages in Indiana for low income and middle income households

•             Review State laws that affect the local regulation of housing

•             Review efforts in other states and municipalities to address housing shortages through changes to zoning and land use

•             Consider measures that would encourage increased housing options in Indiana, like municipal incentives or state mandates, and

•             Make recommendations based on the task force’s findings

The task force has until Nov. 1, 2022, to report their findings and recommendations.