Guernsey County has a housing problem, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
There are limited homes available on the market, while rental prices continue to rise. For young professionals and families considering a move to the area, finding a place to live can be just as important as finding a job. When housing is too expensive or simply unavailable, those potential residents have little reason to stay. That creates a cycle: local employers have job openings, people come to the area looking for opportunities, but some eventually leave because they cannot find affordable, long-term housing.
The Guernsey County Community Development Corporation has been working to address part of that problem through its Affordable Rental Housing Program, which provides affordable rental units to low- and moderate-income families. According to GCCDC statistics, the average rent for a family unit in Guernsey County is now about $1,500 per month. The organization has also purchased older homes, renovated them and placed them into its rental program. But rising home prices have made that approach increasingly difficult and less financially sustainable.
At the same time, new housing construction has not kept pace with the community’s needs. Data from Point2Homes shows only 71 homes have been built in Guernsey County since 2020. If an organization dedicated to expanding affordable housing is struggling to purchase properties, and new homes are being built at a limited rate, it is reasonable to ask where future housing opportunities will come from.
The answer may be in land that is already available. GCCDC Executive Director Ron Gombeda says the organization is working on a small housing development initiative that could have a significant impact. While the details of that effort are still developing, the idea points toward a solution that Guernsey County needs to consider: creating new housing rather than relying entirely on an increasingly expensive existing housing stock.
Part of Gombeda’s proposal includes the purchase of prefabricated small homes that could comfortably accommodate a small family. Multiple small homes could be placed on large plots of land cheaply, and could pair up with local labor forces to furnish and complete these shells and turn them into comfortable living spaces.
The largest obstacle to this proposal lies within a current city ordinance in Cambridge that requires houses to meet a size minimum in order to be built, making it difficult for these small homes to get placed.
Housing is not simply a place for someone to live. It is part of the foundation of a healthy local economy. If Guernsey County wants to attract and retain workers, support local businesses and give young families a reason to build their futures here, there must be places for those people to live.
The county cannot expect its workforce and population to grow without addressing the housing shortage. Building more affordable homes will not solve every challenge facing Guernsey County, but without more housing options, many of the other efforts to grow the community will face an obstacle that is difficult to overcome.
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