Prosperity Indiana, a statewide organization focused on economic equity, has unveiled its 2026 policy agenda, placing affordable housing at the forefront. The group’s latest analysis reveals a significant gap between rental costs and average wages across the state. According to their findings, a worker must earn $22.18 per hour to afford a two-bedroom rental unit, yet the typical hourly wage for Indiana residents stands at $18.05. This disparity highlights the growing challenge of securing decent housing for many households.
The organization ranked Indiana last among Midwestern states in terms of median renter household income, underscoring structural economic vulnerabilities. In addition to housing, Prosperity Indiana is advocating for measures to address rising medical debt, which reportedly exceeds $2 billion statewide. The group also warns against potential disruptions caused by reductions in state and federal services.
To promote dialogue around these priorities, Prosperity Indiana will host a series of public meetings in November and December 2025, including stops in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Elkhart, Evansville, and Lafayette. Registration details and the full policy report are available online.
— news from WFYI
— News Original —
Indiana’s need for affordable housing tops priority list for economic advocacy group
Prosperity Indiana, a state economic advocacy organization, released its policy priorities for 2026 this week. n nThe group put calls for affordable and habitable housing at the top of its list. n nProsperity Indiana has long had a focus on housing affordability. Its latest report focused on renter incomes, ranked Indiana last in the Midwest for median renter household income. n nThe report went on to argue that affordable housing was out of reach for many Hoosiers, showing that someone needs to earn $22.18 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment in a state where the average Hoosier earns $18.05 an hour. n nOther policy priorities include concerns about medical debt in the state and protecting Hoosiers from the impact of decreasing services caused by state and federal cuts. n nOther groups have noted that medical debt in Indiana is a growing concern, reportedly topping $2 billion. n nProsperity Indiana will hold meetings over the next month to discuss its new agenda. n nThe group will meet on November 5 in Fort Wayne, November 10 in Indianapolis, November 13 in Elkhart, December 3 in Evansville, and December 12 in Lafayette. n nYou can find links to register for those events and the full report here.