AFP-IN Poll Shows 80 Percent of Hoosiers Support Legislative Action on Housing Shortage

Feb 19, 2026 by AFP

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A new Americans for Prosperity-Indiana (AFP-IN)-commissioned YouGov poll found that, overall, 80 percent of Hoosiers believe the cost of housing is a major issue and supported the idea of state lawmakers taking legislative action to alleviate the ongoing shortage. The results, released Thursday ahead of AFP’s annual Statehouse Day, demonstrate that Hoosiers across the income spectrum shared those concerns and want regulatory reform that will make it easier to build new homes and lower housing costs.

“The research confirms what AFP-Indiana has known for a long time. Hoosiers across the board agree the cost of housing is too high and need smart policies that will ease that burden,” AFP-IN Legislative Director Graham Renbarger said. “AFP has advocated for homebuilding regulatory reforms in our Crossroads to Prosperity agenda for some time now. These results ought to galvanize lawmakers into taking meaningful action, and I hope they can use the remaining weeks of session to pass legislation that finally delivers the relief Hoosiers deserve.”

The survey examined the top five issues Hoosiers care about, including inflation, healthcare costs, housing costs, job availability, and taxes. AFP-IN’s policy agenda provides solutions to each of these matters, and the chapter continues to push for legislation that will enact those solutions for all Hoosiers.

Some notable highlights from the data include:

84% of Hoosiers agree that state legislators should take action to address Indiana’s housing shortage and the cost of housing in the state.

67% of Hoosiers support policies that make it easier to build smaller scale housing options, like duplexes (two homes on one lot), that match the scale of nearby homes.

76% Hoosiers support allowing faith institutions—such as churches, synagogues, and other faith communities—to build housing for lower-income individuals on land they own through a simplified permitting process, provided they continue to follow all applicable laws and building codes.

74% Hoosiers under 35 are more likely to vote for their state legislator in a primary if the legislator worked to pass policies that expand housing availability and affordability.