COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A Georgia Tech study presented to the Columbus City Council on Tuesday found that the city faces a growing shortage of affordable and available housing — especially for middle-income residents — as the region expands its economic development efforts.

Senior Economic Developer Alan Durham with Georgia Tech said the issue has become a key obstacle to attracting new jobs and industry.

“Workforce housing is economic development,” Durham told council members. “You can't attract new jobs if you don't have a place for those workers to live.”

The study examined housing data across six counties, including Muscogee, Lee, and Russell counties.

The region’s median household income is about $58,500, meaning an affordable home would cost roughly $155,000 — a price point where

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