Wyoming's Housing Aid Expansion Still Falls Short

• Author: Noah Koch
• Posted: 2024-07-20

Wyoming recently increased funding for housing assistance programs to help struggling families.

However, housing advocates say the additional $8 million in aid still won't meet the scale of need across the state. 


Rental Aid Only Scratches the Surface

The largest portion of new funding, $5 million, went to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

While the extra money will help some families cover rent and utility costs, many more remain at risk of eviction. According to estimates, Wyoming has a shortage of over 23,000 affordable rental units for very low-income households.

The Wyoming Affordable Housing Coalition argues the state must allocate at least $20 million per year to ERAP to adequately support those in need. At current funding levels, the program reaches only a fraction of eligible residents.


Homeowner Help Too Little Too Late

The Mortgage Relief Program received $3 million to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. However, housing groups say the aid comes too late for many. Over 5,000 Wyoming homes have faced foreclosure since the start of the pandemic. 

Advocates had pushed for major expansions to the program in 2020 as job losses mounted. The recent funding boost is a small step, but for hundreds of families, it's a case of too little too late. Their homes have already been foreclosed.


A Drop in the Bucket 

While state officials tout these new investments, housing organizations say it's a "drop in the bucket" compared to overall need. Wyoming continues to face a severe housing crisis, especially for low-income and vulnerable groups.

Rather than a lifeline, the recent aid is a "band-aid" solution according to critics.

To truly support stable, affordable housing, Wyoming must make major, sustained investments in rental assistance, public housing, and subsidies for private developers. 



Piecemeal programs may temporarily help select households, but fail to remedy the underlying issues. For families struggling to keep a roof over their heads in Wyoming, much more is needed to ensure brighter, more stable futures.

The state's modest funding expansions are an encouraging start, but the scale of the housing crisis demands a far more robust response.