I think people are finally getting it. We have a big lack of housing and a big glut of empty spaces. In big and small towns across the nation, buildings sit empty while those who are unhoused seem to be on every corner. From office complexes to churches, commercial and industrial buildings, and abandoned schools, it seems we have more than enough structures to make up for the housing shortfall if we could find a way to utilize those spaces.

In an article by Janice Endresen for the Cornell University, SC Johnson College of Business, she explores one of the unexpected by-products of the global pandemic: empty office space. Many of us who decided to office from home at the beginning of the COVID outbreak never came back to the office. What began with the anticipation that the work-from-home experience would last a few weeks at most, became a preferred, and permanent re-location. The result is that more than 20 percent of office space is vacant nationwide.

Oklahoma is certainly no exception to the phenomena of workers preferring- and even demanding- to work from home. We are also no exception to empty buildings that cause blight across our cities and small towns. Policymakers are taking note and taking action.

Representative Kevin Wallace tuned in to the lack of affordable housing- in fact, a lack of available housing at all in his rural district that encompasses Lincoln and Logan Counties. He filed HB 1031 to create the Oklahoma Housing Stability Program. This funds $215 million to help bridge the gap in new homes for sale and for rent across Oklahoma.