Can State-Level Action Help Solve Greensboro's Housing Crisis? Lessons from Utah

Across the country, states are taking bold steps to address the affordable housing crisis by encouraging or even mandating that cities allow for more diverse and dense housing options. This national trend offers important lessons for us here in Greensboro as we grapple with our own significant housing shortage.

At the Greensboro Housing Coalition (GHC), we see the effects of the housing crisis every day. We work with families and individuals who are struggling to find a safe, affordable place to call home in a market that is becoming increasingly out of reach. The core of this problem is simple: there are not enough homes for the people who need them. This isn’t just a local issue; it’s a national one, and a recent report from NPR sheds light on an emerging strategy that could hold promise for communities like ours.

The article, “Frustrated by NIMBYs, states are trying to force cities to build affordable housing,” highlights how states like Utah are stepping in to override restrictive local zoning laws that often stifle the development of affordable housing. For decades, many cities have prioritized single-family homes, making it difficult or impossible to build duplexes, townhomes, or small apartment buildings that offer more affordable options for renters and first-time homebuyers.

This is a story that resonates deeply in Greensboro.

The National Trend and Greensboro’s Reality

The situation described in Utah mirrors the challenges we face in Guilford County. The NPR story features a young couple, both working multiple jobs, who are being priced out of their hometown. “I am a young woman, born and raised in Utah, and I am being priced out of my hometown,” says Grace Cunningham in the article. “Honestly, it breaks my heart and it makes me angry.”

How many of our own young people, seniors, and working families in Greensboro feel the same way?

The numbers paint a stark picture. According to a recent study highlighted by WFMY News 2, Guilford County has a staggering housing deficit and needs to build 32,000 new housing units in the next five years to keep pace with economic growth. This shortage drives up prices for everyone. The median home price in Greensboro hovers around $276,000 to $327,000, depending on the source, and the median rent for an apartment is approximately $1,362, according to Zumper. These costs are a heavy burden for many of our neighbors.

The problem, as identified in the NPR piece, is often rooted in local zoning and the “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) sentiment that resists new development, especially denser housing types. This resistance, while often stemming from legitimate concerns about neighborhood character and infrastructure, ultimately contributes to the housing shortage that affects the entire community.

What Can We Learn from Utah’s Approach?

Frustrated by local inaction, Utah’s state government has begun implementing a “carrot and stick” approach. The state now requires cities and counties to select from a menu of options to create denser, more affordable housing and to report on their progress annually. These options include:

Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), or “granny flats.”
Reducing parking requirements for new developments.
Streamlining the permitting process.
Allowing for smaller homes on smaller lots.

This state-level intervention is designed to break the local logjam and ensure that all communities are part of the solution. It’s a recognition that housing is a regional issue and that the failure of one city to build its fair share of housing puts pressure on its neighbors.

Here in Greensboro, our city leaders have already taken some positive steps. The City’s Housing & Neighborhood Development department offers various programs, and the ambitious “Road to 10,000” plan aims to address the housing supply. Furthermore, Greensboro’s Land Development Ordinance (LDO) has seen amendments related to Accessory Dwelling Units and multifamily density.

However, as the experience in Utah shows, progress can be slow and face significant pushback. The NPR article notes that even with state mandates, the housing shortage continues to grow, and developers still face pressure to build luxury properties over affordable ones. This highlights the need for a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond just changing zoning laws.

A Path Forward for Greensboro

The Greensboro Housing Coalition believes that ensuring housing security for all residents requires bold, collaborative action. The trend of state-level involvement offers a powerful model for how we might accelerate progress here in North Carolina. We must advocate for:

Pro-Housing Policies at All Levels: We encourage our city and county leaders to continue reforming zoning codes to allow for a greater diversity of housing types in more neighborhoods. This includes everything from duplexes and cottage courts to mixed-use, mixed-income developments.
Strategic Use of Public Land: Just as nonprofits in Utah are looking for public land to build tiny homes, we should identify underutilized public parcels in Greensboro that can be dedicated to permanently affordable housing.
Community Education and Engagement: We must work to overcome the “NIMBY” mindset by demonstrating how well-designed, dense housing can enhance, not detract from, a neighborhood’s character and vitality. The people who serve our community—teachers, healthcare workers, first responders—should be able to afford to live in it.
Partnerships for Progress: Tackling a 32,000-unit housing deficit is a monumental task that requires collaboration between the city, county, state, private developers, and nonprofit organizations like GHC.

The story of Utah is a reminder that we are not alone in this fight. The housing crisis demands that we think creatively and act courageously. It’s time to have a serious conversation about the rules that shape our city and to embrace the solutions that will allow Greensboro to be a place where everyone, regardless of their income, can find a place to call home.

To learn more about our advocacy work or to find housing resources, please explore our website. If you are in immediate need of assistance, please contact the Housing Hotline at 336-691-9521.