Indiana is coming to a crossroads in 2025: as the state’s housing stock and economic opportunities have declined for vulnerable Hoosiers, the state’s prospects for healthy and growing communities stand at a distinct disadvantage compared to many Midwest neighbors and peer states. To regain momentum for stronger communities, Indiana’s policymakers will need to begin rebuilding housing and economic opportunities for all Hoosiers in 2025.

Indiana now has only 34 affordable and available homes for every 100 extremely low income renter households, the second-lowest rate in the Midwest. Homeownership rates have also decreased over the past decade, with the greatest declines among Black Hoosier households. As evictions and housing instability remains high, the proportion of Hoosiers experiencing homelessness has increased by 11% in recent years, but the state’s overall population has only increased by 3%. Opportunities for economic mobility are decreasing, as 14 of Indiana’s top 20 largest occupations no longer pay the state’s Housing Wage of $22.07 needed to afford a modest two-bedroom home, up from 9 occupations just two years ago.

With new sessions of the Indiana General Assembly and Congress and new administrations at the state and federal levels in 2025, Indiana’s elected officials must work together to invest in Indiana’s communities. Prosperity Indiana, a leading advocate for community economic development, has offered through its 2025 Policy Agenda a strategic and comprehensive approach to tackle issues such as the inadequate supply and unaffordable cost of housing, equitable pathways to homeownership, and increased economic opportunity for vulnerable Hoosiers.

Prosperity Indiana’s 2025 Policy Agenda addresses our members’ priorities as reported by an annual policy survey covering categories of affordable housing, community development resources, and asset-building and consumer protections. PI’s 2025 Agenda also addresses urgent and emerging priorities at the federal and state levels, emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all policy initiatives.