Why Workforce Housing Is the Next Big Play

For years, the housing crisis has felt like a distant headline— numbers and statistics, policy debates, and thinkpieces that never quite hit home. But if you’ve ever watched a friend, a colleague, or even your own child struggle to find a decent place to live near their job, you know this isn’t just a “market trend.” It’s real. It’s affecting people we care about and the businesses we depend on. And it’s a problem we can actually solve—if we’re willing to rethink what opportunity looks like.

While workforce housing isn’t luxury condos, it isn’t just subsidized low-income units either. It’s about creating homes for the people who keep our communities running—our teachers, nurses, first responders, city workers, the barista who makes your coffee, the staff at your favorite grocery store, and on and on. The engine behind every small business and neighborhood. These are the folks who deserve the chance not just to live where they work, but to build real roots, like becoming homeowners someday. When we overlook their needs, we don’t just lose workers—we lose the fabric of our neighborhoods.

This vision ties directly to the principles I shared in my last post, “Fair Housing Is Our Greatest Opportunity.” Real progress means making fair housing more than a slogan. It means opening doors—literally and figuratively—so everyone has the dignity of a safe home at a price they can afford.

The next generation of real estate leaders and investors is catching on. Workforce housing isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also smart business. Demand is steady, risk is lower, and the social impact is immediate. As the economy shifts, investors are looking for opportunities that last—and that actually do good. The margins are thinner without the right funding, but it’s a volume play. The play that I am taking and you can partner with me. That’s the heart of workforce housing.

Building for our workforce means investing in our future. It’s time to stop treating this as a niche and start seeing it for what it is: the next big opportunity in real estate. Let’s put our capital—and our creativity—toward solutions that help everyone thrive. This is our moment to lead. If you’re ready to be part of the change, let’s connect.

Encouraging you to Always #LiveSovereign,

Karen Hatcher, CPM®