La Porte County is not alone in an overall housing shortage, but more immediately, we have an affordable housing crisis. This is a nationwide trend, but demands local solutions. The problem is that affordable rental housing has become virtually nonexistent for those who need it most in our community. As stakeholders prepare to gather this Thursday, July 31st, for a critical housing discussion hosted by Prosperity Indiana at the Health Foundation of La Porte, the data paints an unmistakable picture of crisis right here in La Porte County.
The Bottom Line: Affordable Rental Housing Is Out of Reach in La Porte and Michigan City
The numbers tell a sobering story. According to the recently released “Out of Reach” report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and Prosperity Indiana, a full-time worker in Indiana must earn $22.18 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent (Source: Out of Reach – Indiana 2025). Yet the average renter wage in our state is only $18.05 per hour, creating a $4.13 hourly gap that leaves thousands of working families struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
This crisis hits La Porte County particularly hard. As Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski, who is deeply involved in addressing these challenges, puts it bluntly: “Affordable rental housing remains in critically short supply in La Porte County, it’s virtually nonexistent for low-income households and limited even for moderate-income families.”
Recent housing studies, including ones supported by the Health Foundation of La Porte, support Lisa’s assessment. La Porte is short over 700 rental properties, with county-wide shortages exceeding 660 workforce units and over 240 affordable units, according to Lisa, who cites estimates from Health Foundation-supported studies.
The Human Cost of This Crisis
For the most vulnerable residents, the statistics become even more dire. Lisa describes the stark reality facing many of her clients: “In our office, most clients are on SSDI (social security/ disability insurance), which is currently just $967 per month. That’s far below what HUD considers a livable income for rental qualification.”
The consequences are devastating. “With this income level,” Lisa explains, “there are virtually no safe, sanitary, and decent units available. Many end up in bug-infested buildings with windows painted shut, non-functioning doors, or even code violations.”
The affordability burden extends far beyond those with disabilities. Nearly 48% of renters in La Porte County spend more than 30% of their income on housing, officially classifying them as housing cost-burdened. As Lisa notes, “This affordability crisis doesn’t just hurt individuals—it destabilizes families, undermines health, and deepens the cycle of poverty.”
Statewide Context: Indiana’s Regional Disadvantage
La Porte County’s struggles reflect broader statewide challenges that put Indiana at a disadvantage compared to neighboring states. Indiana’s median renter household income of $43,672 ranks dead last among Midwest states, $3,708 below the regional average of $47,380, according to the Out of Reach report published earlier this month. This income gap alone represents nearly three months of rent for a two-bedroom home at fair market value.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s Housing Wage of $22.18 ranks sixth-highest in the Midwest, meaning Hoosiers face housing costs that are typical, yet the wages do not match to afford adequate housing. A housing wage is generally defined as the hourly rate of pay a worker needs to earn in order to afford a modest rental property.
The Employment-Housing Mismatch
The workforce implications are staggering. Two-thirds of Indiana’s largest occupations, including nursing assistants, industrial truck operators, home health aides, and childcare workers, provide median wages lower than what’s needed to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, according to the Out of Reach Report. In fact, 14 of Indiana’s top 20 most common occupations pay median wages below the state’s Housing Wage in 2025.
These poorly paid occupations employ 810,610 working Hoosiers, that’s 76% of the total employed in the state’s 20 largest occupations. These jobs are frequently held by women, black and brown Hoosiers, and others who make up Indiana’s extremely low-income renter household population.
La Porte County Has Work to Do
Recognizing housing as a fundamental social determinant of health, the Health Foundation of La Porte has taken proactive steps to address these challenges. In 2022, HFL partnered with the City of La Porte to conduct a comprehensive housing study through SB Friedman Development Advisors. The study’s findings recommend adding 900+ for-sale housing units and 750+ rental housing units over the next few years to meet current and projected demand (Source: Health Foundation of La Porte).
As Maria Fruth, former President & CEO of HFL, explained: “When housing availability and lack of appropriate rental units fall short where people live, work, and play, the quality of life for all residents in our communities is diminished” (Source: Health Foundation of La Porte).
The foundation’s commitment extends beyond data collection to actionable solutions. Through their TEN2030 initiative, aiming to make La Porte County among the top ten healthiest communities in Indiana by 2030, they continue to track housing-related health outcomes and advocate for evidence-based interventions.
While leadership within the county is recognizing the issue, there is still much work to be done. The rental market itself reflects the crisis. Low vacancy rates in La Porte County indicate a tight and competitive rental market where demand far exceeds supply. Most available rentals exceed HUD’s Fair Market Rent affordability thresholds, pushing even moderate-income families out of reach of suitable housing options.
Lisa summarizes the current state: “Low vacancy (~5–6%) indicates a tight and competitive rental market,” where “Most available rentals exceed HUD’s Fair Market Rent affordability thresholds.”
For context, healthy rental markets typically maintain vacancy rates of 7-8% to ensure adequate choice and affordability. La Porte County’s persistently low vacancy rates signal a market under severe stress.
Policy to Enact Change
Local officials working directly with affected residents see the urgent need for systemic change. Lisa, who is actively involved in local efforts like Homeward Bound Villages, emphasizes the critical need for immediate action: “As someone deeply involved in local efforts like Homeward Bound, I can attest firsthand that policy change is urgently needed, especially in zoning and ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) regulations. These changes could unlock substantial new supply and make way for sustainable low-income housing developments.”
She frames the challenge in stark terms: “To truly address the housing crisis in La Porte County, we must combine policy reform, new construction, and financial assistance. It’s time to stop patching a broken system with band-aids and start building genuine solutions that match the scale of the need.”
The solutions require coordination across multiple levels:
Local Level: Zoning reform, ADU regulations, and streamlined development processes could unlock immediate housing supply increases. Another way is to support social housing solutions that are under public control.
State Level: Prosperity Indiana is calling for Governor Mike Braun to create a Commission on Housing Safety, Stability, and Affordability to align resources and eliminate barriers to safe, affordable housing.
Federal Level: Protecting and expanding housing assistance programs remains critical, especially as current budget proposals threaten significant cuts to HUD funding.
Our Community is at a Crossroads
This Thursday’s event at the Health Foundation represents more than just another community meeting; it’s a pivotal moment for La Porte County to continue to confront its housing crisis with the urgency it demands. As Andrew Bradley, Senior Director for Policy and Strategy at Prosperity Indiana stated in the Out of Reach report, “With Hoosier renter incomes dead last in the Midwest and housing supply for the most vulnerable communities among the lowest in the region, it’s clear the status quo is no longer working in Indiana, if it ever did”.
The data is clear: La Porte County faces a housing emergency that affects not just individual families but the economic vitality and health of our entire community. With nearly half of all renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing and hundreds of needed units missing from our housing stock, the time for incremental solutions has passed.
The Path Forward
True solutions will require the scale and ambition that match the magnitude of the crisis. This means:
- Immediate policy reforms to remove barriers to housing development
- Innovative financing mechanisms to support affordable housing creation
- Regional cooperation to leverage resources and expertise
- Community engagement that centers the voices of those most affected by the housing crisis
As our county continues to develop and grow, we cannot afford to leave behind the workers, families, and vulnerable residents who form the backbone of our community. The question isn’t whether we can afford to act, it’s whether we can afford not to. If you’d like to learn more about the housing emergency in La Porte County, we have compiled a list of resources below:
Sources and Additional Information
Primary Reports:
- Out of Reach – Indiana 2025 Report: https://housing4hoosiers.org/2025/07/17/out-of-reach/
- National Low Income Housing Coalition: http://www.nlihc.org/oor
Local Data and Initiatives:
- Health Foundation of La Porte Housing Initiative: https://www.hflaporte.org/housing-initiative
- TEN2030 Community Data Platform: https://www.ten2030.org/
- Indiana Housing Dashboard: https://indianahousingdashboard.com/
Organizations:
- Prosperity Indiana: https://www.prosperityindiana.org/
- Health Foundation of La Porte: https://www.hflaporte.org/
- City of La Porte Housing Studies: https://www.cityoflaporte.com/news/healthcare-foundation-of-la-porte-city-of-la-porte-housing-initiative-shares-study-findings
Housing Resources:
- Indiana Housing Now (rental search): https://www.indianahousingnow.org/
- Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/
