Just as a new report is highlighting that two-thirds of Indiana’s largest occupations are paying less than what workers need to cover rent, Gov. Mike Braun has indicated he sees housing as key to the state’s economic health.
Braun spoke with reporters on Thursday at Huntington University following the ceremonial signing of Senate Enrolled Act 306, which allows taxpayers to transfer film and media production tax credits. The Republican governor was asked about the recent call by housing advocates to create a commission to examine and propose solutions to address the state’s housing affordability crisis.
“Housing has been a chronic issue,” Braun said. “We’re not going to get economic development if we don’t have enough housing as we build the workforce.”
The “Out of Reach – Indiana 2025” report, published by Prosperity Indiana and the National Low Income Housing Coalition, found Hoosier workers need to earn $22.18 per hour to afford a “modest two-bedroom apartment” at the fair market rental rate of $1,153 per month in Indiana. That “housing wage” enables renters to spend no more than 30% of their household income on housing and utilities and avoid having to make the difficult choices to forego basic needs like food and medical care in order to afford a place to live, according to the report.
However in Indiana, the current average renter wage is $18.05 an hour, which, as the report notes, is $4.13 less than the state’s housing wage for an apartment with two bedrooms. The disparity between paychecks and rent is especially acute since the state’s median renter household income of $43,672 is the lowest in the Midwest, but its housing costs are “typical for the region.”
Moreover, the report found that 76% of Hoosiers working in the top 20 occupations in Indiana – 810,610 employees – are making a median hourly wage that is less than the wage needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment. These workers include waiters and waitresses, nursing assistants, child-care workers, stockers and order fillers, and customer service representatives.
That gap appears to be getting wider. According to the report, 14 of Indiana’s “top 20 most common occupations” pay median wages below the state’s 2025 housing wage. This is an increase from nine occupations in 2022.
The state’s affordability crisis is even worse for workers making the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. The report noted that Hoosiers working at minimum wage must have 3.1 full-time jobs, the equivalent of working 122 hours per week, to afford a two-bedroom apartment.
Andrew Bradley, senior director of policy and strategy for Prosperity Indiana, said the report underscores the need for federal, state and local policymakers to be “laser-focused” on making housing more affordable across Indiana. Also, he renewed the call for Braun to convene a housing commission to help address these issues.
“Given Indiana’s growing housing crisis, Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition strongly urge Gov. Braun to use his leadership and entrepreneurial know-how to create and convene a Commission on Housing Safety, Stability, and Affordability, and by doing so, cement himself as Indiana’s first Housing Governor,” Bradley told The Indiana Citizen. “While there are resources available to increase the supply and affordability of housing in Indiana, they are currently scattered through public agencies and segments of the private sector that don’t often coordinate. Only a governor has the bully pulpit and convening power to bring together the right stakeholders to align existing resources, eliminate barriers, and drive the improved housing outcomes that Hoosiers and their communities need to thrive.”
The idea for the governor to appoint a housing commission was first presented to Braun’s predecessor, Gov. Eric Holcomb. Although Holcomb did not assemble such a group, housing advocates have not given up on their proposal. They are trying to convince Braun to take action.
In June, Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition delivered a letter to the current governor urging him to create a Commission on Housing Safety, Stability and Affordability to address the state’s “shortage of safe, healthy, and affordable homes accessible to the most vulnerable Hoosiers.” The letter was signed by 665 organizations and individuals, including housing providers and developers, homeless prevention specialists, community service agencies and faith-based groups, from around Indiana.
Asked on Thursday about the advocates’ call for a housing commission, Braun did not dismiss the idea.
“I will always seek advice, whether it’s through a commission or just gathering the input like I’ve done in government and in the business world,” Braun said. “That’s what makes you successful.”
In the letter, the organizations and individuals said a commission was needed because the “incremental steps” taken by policymakers have not been enough to address the state’s housing affordability crisis. A commission, they said, could foster cooperation between government agencies, courts and nonprofits to help bolster housing resources, clean up the “patchwork of codes for health and safety standards,” coordinate administrative and court rules, and recommend new legislation.
The letter did note the positive impact on Indiana’s housing supply through the funding of the Residential Housing Infrastructure Assistance Program (RIF) and the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI).
However, the advocates said, Indiana still has a housing crisis. For every 100 “extreme low-income Hoosier households,” the state only has 38 affordable rental homes available, the second-lowest rate in the Midwest. Also, the advocates said, 74% of these households spend more than half of their income on housing expenses, the highest rate in the Midwest.
Lauren Murfree, policy analyst for the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, said the lack of affordable housing is detrimental to Hoosiers’ economic viability. Without stable housing, she said, working Hoosiers are having trouble obtaining and retaining employment.
“If our goal is to provide an economically stable and sustainable state, housing solutions are key, and the creation of a housing commission would provide the governor with the ability to gather experts together to help ground solutions in evidenced-based approaches,” Murfree said. “We are excited that the governor has recently expressed openness and willingness to engage with the topic of housing and look forward to outreach and engagement from his staff on this topic so that we can work together toward addressing our housing crisis.”
51 comments
If the state of Indiana wants to take steps to increase affordability in housing, they are in for a very trying situation. How in the world can rents be kept low enough for the lower paid workers in our state when the state has not done any significant thing to help keep costs down for rental properties. The property tax issue is killing both tenants and landlords by increasing tax rates excessively, and that coupled with increases in homeowners insurance rates, is what is propelling the rent increases higher and higher.
I suggest offering a tax solution to property owners needing to offset cost of taxes, insurance etc. It falls in line with the equity in their homes/land, and they don’t have to increase rents to cover the cost of an inflated appraisal number that doesn’t align with renters wages. How can we charge property taxes etc for excess inflated numbers that are yet to be realized?
My landlord just raised my rent $100 because he said his taxes went up. It’s the third rate increase I’ve had since I took over this property to rent. I went from $800 a month. Now to $1,200 a month we get pinched everywhere. We turn groceries, rent, fuel costs. Everything goes up. Nothing ever goes down
Indiana is getting more expensive by the day, I moved from western Michigan, my home state to move down here with my company in part because of the costs of living was cheaper. Now even cigarettes, no thanks to this governor are actually cheaper in Michigan. That never was the case. My property taxes doubled since 2019 too. I work two jobs and still struggle to keep things going. I never had to do that until a few years ago. Vacations are definitely on a back burner and it’s not like I make low wages, I make like $22 an hour and $19 at my other job and still struggle. The crazy thing is whatever will be proposed I will likely not benefit from. All these taxes, all these fees paid to a state I get nothing from. Yes, we got roads. Crappy as they are we also pay a wheel tax that’s supposed to fix them. 🙄 You see these are the problems we get from government tinkering to start with. They can’t keep in their budget in Washington, so they print, print, print and it devalues our money while causing inflation. Had the government not done thar our hard earned dollars would go further. Meanwhile again I don’t get no benefit from this. They’re not sending me a check to make up for all this spending and screwing fokes. Nope, I actually still have to pay in at the end of year. Like every year. It’s never enough. The couch sitters and rich politicians might benefit from this farce but for the working man it’s rough. I see no fix for that. You can’t have affordable housing and inflated assets like this. It’s like oil and water, it doesn’t mix so anything the government does will likely just make everything more expensive. If you ask me they’ve caused enough damage.
My rents gone up 30% over the last 2 years!
I am a senior citizens living on disability income raising my grandkids and getting no financial assistance for them. How can I get emergency rental section 8 ⁉️ I have been on the waiting list for a year now and IT takes MY entire disability check to pay for rent for the 2 bedroom apartment that I currently live in. I need some help ASAP ‼️ I live in LaPorte Indiana.
Hello Wanda. You can contact your local trustee for assistance. That office will then direct you to other resources that may have funding to help with your situation.
I’m disabled 34 year old with epilepsy and 3 children pay 650 rent an 485 lights included that’s not all my bills I pray everyday for a break
Become the governor and the tax payers won’t just pay for your house, they’ll buy you a helipad
Maybe because the governor is in the pocket of the utility companies. My electric bill more than doubled this month. Im disabled and ssdi, im not sure how he thinks people can pay that. Even the people working and making over 100k are struggling. This has to be his last term people, he’s done nothing but raise the price of everything so far. Don’t even get me started on him signing the bill for all interstates to become toll roads. Didn’t he run on the promise of eliminating state income taxes? Even if he did that now, it wouldn’t mean nothing because of how he had everything so high.
Wanda, I am on disability as well and I’ve looked for a place for over a year. The waiting lists for section 8 and government assisted apartments are 2 to 3 years. I finally found a brand new townhouse that I can afford. I’m in Sellersburg IN. WODA CORPORATION owns these and more. They also have 3 bedrooms 2 bath apartments. Maybe they have something in your area or building somewhere else you might want to move too. Look them up and give them a call. Hopefully, they have something. Sending prayers to you.
I urge everyone who reads this to write to Gov. Braun and all of your local, state, and national representatives. This crisis has been going on for years now and without drastic measures, things will devolve even more for those at the lowest end of our economic spectrum. It’s time that the 1% see the faces of the other end and realize these aren’t just numbers but real people who are also their responsibility with their office. Indiana needs those willing to work in service jobs and we need to figure out how we can make those positions sustainable, not only for the current period, but for our futures as ee age and need those service positions filled by competent and caring individuals, not just someone working “3.1 fulltime” jobs to make ends meet.
The State of Indiana would have a surplus of housing, and higher wages if all illegal aliens were deported from our state.
I disagree. By deporting all the undocumented people would leave a vast number of rental properties vacant. So, what will the landlords and property owners do? They will increase the rent higher than it is now to make up for the money lost on all the vacant units. Also, section 8 is not given to undocumented people. The majority of people on Section 8 are US citizens who moved to Hamilton county from Gary, Indiana. Apparently, since Section 8 was closed in their county they were able to apply to open Section 8 in other counties. Take a drive thru Casey Acres in Westfield, Indiana, 95% of those residents moved from Gary, Indiana. Take a look at Vrbo they have beautiful vacation rentals in Gary, The rent in Gary for an apartment runs around $1300 a month. Look at the increase in violence to the point that there is a curfew. The undocumented people didn’t cause all this to happen. When the US citizens from Gary moved to Indianapolis and the surrounding counties they brought the gangs and the increased violence that we are dealing with.
Your theory doesn’t work if the climbing rental costs are because of shortages, as is claimed. Deporting ALL the illegals will definitely open up housing that LEGAL Hoosiers can occupy.
Don’t worry though, Braun has already said he’s not interested in deporting people who violate immigration laws.
The are 1.8% of the population but 5.3% of our construction workers. They are building more homes than they use up. The problem would become even worse if you kick them out. You would actually improve the housing situation if you gave them a path to citizenship and brought in even more immigrants.
I dnt see how people are making ends meat with Rents as high as they are! So Sad!
I propose a law that requires all apartment complexes and rental home owners to register their properties with the state. This goes for any person/entity claiming rental property income on their taxes that operates in Indiana. Registered properties would have property taxes cut in half. The caveat being that the property owners cannot reside in the rental homes to qualify. Also they must provide documentation for reasons to increase rent that must be approved by the state. Any windfall profits after the law takes effect will be subject to a 60% tax and will open up the property owners to investigation and additional penalties.
Note: I’m not a politician or a legal expert. Just a regular citizen making a suggestion. I’m sure there are some legal ramifications to what I’m proposing.
My husband died 3 years ago. He was receiving money from social security and the VA. The VA check stopped immediately after his death. That check was approximately 57% of our income. 4 months later my rent went from 699.00 to 945.00. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I even called HUD because i was just sure that couldnt be legal. Not only was it legal they could’ve raised it to the fair market rate which was about 1150.00. at the time. So, here i am 3 years later living in a nasty dirty, mold infected, cockroach infested motel room. I also lost our car. Something has to be done about the extraordinary high cost of living and the damage it is doing to families across the country.
Indiana needs rental control, we on disability, social security and low paying jobs are almost out in the streets, with President Trumps new executive order, forcing the homeless into long term rehabilitation centers, it almost certain we all end up in a insanity facility near us. I pray we all see a blue wall at midterms in 2026, we have to have a way to balance out President Trump and the Republican Party from anymore cuts to our livelihood that’s going to put us all on the streets before our own eyes. I am a Republican all the way but this time around I’m voting Democrat or if Elon Musk creates his own party, THE American Party, I will vote that way instead to stop the Republican blood bath they are sending us all too. I sure hope that the Epstein files do not disappear before the American people can examine it fully ourselves. Which we have been said to be to stupid to figure it all out, the American people want terrible people like this to go away but justice has to be served, no matter how important a person is or how much money they have, they said Maxwell told on over 100 people in the interviews, so let’s see who gets arrested or not out of over 100 people told on by Maxwell herself, I would like to see her testify in front of congress, right along with Bongino and Patel, Bongino said he has seen the files, he had to know what Bondi told Donald Trump months ago, that President Trumps name was mentioned several and multiple times in the Epstein files and after he read the files his life will never be the same again, even wanted to leave his position because of it, we want the files and everyone involved arrested and prosecuted to fullest of the law. I bet you that Johnson thought since he called summer break that the people are gonna forget all about the Epstein files when summer break is all over with, this needs to be the first agenda on congress to get to the bottom of it all, pedophiles will continue to get away with it because they have money and power
Yeah, because rent control has worked so well in New York City. That was sarcasm, by the way – it’s an unmitigated disaster!
Deporting illegals and expediting gentrification are solutions that will work as intended, but socialist policies (well intentioned or not) rarely seem to have the effect hoped for.
Funny Mike Braun then why haven’t you raised the pay rate at IDOT them highway worker’s maintenance men and women only make 20$ a hour 21$ with a CDL there’s no wonder you can’t keep people working there and on top of that the people that work at our state parks 12$ a hour they can make better money at McDonald’s come on government we can do better than that if the pay was better I would love to work for the state
How to create more affordable housing
1) Increase property tax on all apartment buildings.
2) Decrease property taxes on all apartment buildings that are offering more affordable housing.
3) Create more public housing smaller complexes and not larger.
Make rent based upon the median income for the area.
4) provide funding to housing advocacy groups and organizations to manage and run properties.
Why does a single income have to rent a two bedroom? Also if they have two bedrooms they can get a roommate and bam they’re making $13.92 more then whats needed for housing.
So your guy cannot get married and have kids on a single income? Your guy should get a roommate instead?
Common Sense Guy, REALLY? You do not know why a single person would need more than a one bedroom apartment? Are you not aware of the millions of singles that are raising children, siblings, cousins, etc. as well as caring for elderly family members? And it is really not that easy to find a compatible roommate. Consider yourself very fortunate, if you do find one.
Well, common sense guy. The majority of those people have children. Did you know there are laws that require children of the opposite sex to have their own bedrooms after a certain age. I believe it’s three or five years old. Most households nowadays are single parent not that that’s anyone else’s responsibility but yes, often times one income is taken care of dependence of some sort. Two bedrooms would be necessary.
Jeez, check your facts before putting unfounded, underlying racist comments.
Taking care of dependents of some sort*. Please excuse the grammar above, I just woke up in the middle of the night.
Bam ur the reason this shits happening too bc common sense isn’t common sense anymore !!!! Today’s comments sense doesn’t make any damn sense anymore and it gets worse every day !!!! We’re all fuckrd
I’ve been on the section waitlist for 10 yrs! I called last week to see what the update was and they told me that a computer selects the number in a lottery draw there’s nothing they can do about it when your number comes up your number comes up. I’m also a 55-year-old senior citizen Grandma taking care of grandkids. Good luck with that
Why not raise minimum wage to a living wage???
Or just raise minimum wage. Minimum wage keeps all wages down!!!
Raising the minimum wage helps nobody. Costs increase proportionally to the wage hike, and the middle class doesn’t magically get a raise to offset the increased costs.
And that’s not even taking into account all the jobs that would be eliminated outright!
Maybe they should, idk, increase the fcking minimum wage to a living wage?? Just a thought.
Everyone here has an opinion but no one is saying what needs to be done. California is a high cost of living state, but at least they are sending there people extra money every month to help with ends meeting. But this great state of Indiana just sweeps everyone under the rug and keeps the money for themselves and for unnecessary projects. Everyone needs to take a stand and stand up for our rights. We need to live too. There is no middle class anymore, the higher class people are even feeling the sting now . You are either trying to live comfortably or you are living in poverty. I am 65 and my husband is 62 and we get a small check each month to live in poverty,for the little time we have left, I wish we could live a just a little more comfortable and not have to worry about everything. These are supposed to be our golden years but there’s no gold here. And for the other elders out there that sees no gold either, I pray for you all!
I’m one of those $18/hr employees and to make enough money to pay rent and bills for a single bedroom dwelling I have to work a bare minimum of 50 hrs a week. I had to take a position within my company that is scheduled 12hr shifts 5 days a week. Half of the time I’m lucky to get 9hrs of the 12 each day due to lack of work to do. To make things worse every year my rent increases up to $100. I will end up homeless this time next year with the next rent increase. Something has got to be done for the regular working Hoosier who is currently working themselves to death.
Living paycheck to paychecks your kids in school how difficult it is I couldn’t explain and yet you were openly scammed by the car dealer can’t stop them or investigate them pl
The big driver in high rental cost is all these we buy your home for cash companies buying up houses everywhere then once they got enough properties to ensure that they could raise rent without having lots of open properties they hiked up rental prices 150% . And still climbing. Ones private landlords saw they could increase profits they jumped on the chance. What can be done? Outlaw huge companies from buying single family homes, properly appraise areas and increase tax burden on landlords charging over the fair market value for housing. Another byproduct is slum lords making significantly higher profits while not upkeeping the properties. Stronger enforcement of a set standard for all rental properties is needed as well.
Remember a couple years ago they imposed rental standards on a property in South Bend that was very low cost. After the landlord sunk a ton of money into those apartments, the rent went from sub-$600 up to $1200 per month because that’s what the apartments were worth after the work.
You can’t cheat the laws of economics anymore than you can cheat gravity.
Maybe, in lieu of, trying to keep rents low to make housing more affordable, our officials should channel their efforts to encourage existing employers, as well as, attract new employers that pay a living wage & benefits. Just maybe such would drive more home ownership and property tax revenues.
I live in a 2 bedroom apartment in moved here in 2022, when my husband & I moved our rent started at 1,074 a month & then when we was due to renew our lease they raised our rent from 1,074 to 1,274 and this yr when I went to renew my lease for another year I went up to 1,399 plus 150 late fee if rent is to which I am always late on my rent cause, not.only do I have rent to pay I have phone, electric, gas, car insurance, car payment so by the time I pay my rent it is 1,577.43 that includes sewage, water, pest control, valet trash pick pick up and renters insurance.
I have lived in Elwood Indiana most of my life and the place I’m at for the last 3 years has raised the rent $100 yearly I’m paying $800 for a 1 bedroom apartment it’s costing me 85% of my monthly pay to keep it and pay the bills i just pray they don’t raise it again next year on me or I’ll be homeless
How can I apply online for a 1 bedroom apartment.
Is this part of the reason we are, as a nation, having fewer children?
I bought my home in Marion County in 2019 and my mortgage started at 1250, it is now right around 1500. Along with the drastic increase in the cost of other goods over the last 5 years I now have 2 other parties living with me on this property to spread the cost of living because it’s no longer manageable on my single income. What once felt like an achievement now feels like a slap in the face. I was once a young man with his own property and doing well. Now I dont even like telling people about my living situation cause I feel like I’m not good enough to do it on my own. I was making about 21/hour and even with wage increases and a job change for better pay there’s still no clear way to get my home back to myself. The bills keep climbing.
We need rent controls ,if they have to raise rent it should only be 50$not 200$ that is ridiculous. I live at Terrese Creek for 9 yrs my rent increas was 25$a yr ,after my Apt complex was bought out my rent increas was 200 that is high way robbery Braun needs to put rent controls in plce if not then he should be thrown out and someone who will put in .I’m Republican but if a Democrat runs on this I will vote for him,it’s a matter of survival for us cc elderly not party anymoe.
How about corporate america PAY A LIVING WAGE?
Indianas minimum wage is $7.25 and has been for at least 13 years. Why hasn’t someone increased the minimum wage? Who can live on that???
It seems like the politicians in office don’t care.
The people calling for an increase in the Minimum Wage are on the right track. If the Minimum Wage were increased, all wages go up. Those minimum wage jobs are not for people who have families, they’re for kids in HS still. Indiana does have ways to increase your value to employers by education and job training. If you can’t find a decent job, make yourself more attractive to employers by learning new skills and getting better education.
This sounds absurd, this has been an ongoing crisis minimum wage is 7.25 rent has doubled since 2020. You have to make 2.5 times the rent so if rent is 2000 you have to make over 6k a month let’s be serious here. There’s more to this that immigrants and Section 8.
Can’t afford property taxes either!