Increase Wyoming’s Supply of Affordable Housing — Feb. 2, 2026

Recognizing the lack of affordable and workforce housing options are barriers to healthy communities, a bipartisan group of legislators are bringing a bill this session to create a low interest loan program for the planning, construction and rehabilitation of homes. 

In 2022, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities surveyed their members and found that housing is a statewide challenge. 90% of cities and towns are experiencing some sort of shortage. From affordable, workforce or senior homes, each community is struggling with a lack of affordable housing. This challenge hinders workforce recruitment and stalls economic diversification efforts. 

“We talk a lot about community development and diversifying our economy. If we are going to do these things, we have to have a workforce.  In order to have that workforce, we have to have affordable housing. We can not keep our children here or attract new families if we don’t have housing infrastructure. Attainable housing is needed for our communities and state to thrive” shares the bill’s sponsor, Senator Brennen of Cheyenne. 

Senate File 64 Investment in Wyoming Housing creates the Wyoming Housing Revolving Loan program which will provide low-interest loans to local governments and eligible nonprofits working to build affordable or workforce housing. Wyoming’s cities, towns, counties, tribal governments and nonprofits, like Habitat for Humanity, will be eligible for the revolving loan program allowing for local solutions to each community’s housing needs.  Allowable expenses include pre-development planning costs, public infrastructure build out, purchase of land, repair of existing structures, and construction of attainable housing. 

Wyoming is one of just three states without such a fund.

“The high cost of housing is one of the most common frustrations I hear from constituents,” shares Representative Trey Sherwood of Albany County. “Young families who want to stay in our communities can’t afford a starter home. Hardworking Wyomingites shouldn’t go into debt to put a roof over their heads”. 

Among the policy recommendations in the Wyoming Statewide Strategic Housing Action Plan, published in January 2025, include the establishment of “a flexible housing development fund through which Wyoming localities can receive grants, low-cost loans, credit guarantees, or other forms of financial assistance to support the creation or preservation of housing”. The purpose of Investment in Wyoming Housing is to meet these needs. 

Based on feedback from stakeholders, the plan suggests structuring the program “to advance the state’s interests – for example, ensuring Wyoming is able to attract new employers and retain essential workers like teachers, firefighters, and healthcare providers - while also giving localities control of how they use the funds”. 

The sponsors of this bill believe the lack of affordable housing is making it difficult for families to keep roots in our communities. The government must consider the needs of hardworking people, not just the wealthy and well-connected, to set up the next generation for success. If we want young people to stay and raise their kids in Wyoming, we must work together to solve our housing problem. 

The legislative session begins February 9, 2026. 

Senate File 64 can be found at: https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2026/SF0064

The statewide housing action plan can be found at: www.wyomingcda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wyoming-Statewide-Strategic-Housing-Action-Plan-1.3.25.pdf

A summary of Senate File 64:

What: A $30 million revolving loan fund for zero and low-interest loans to local governments, public housing authorities and non-profits located in Wyoming. 

Up to 80% of the funds available as low interest loans for:

• The development of infrastructure (water, roads, sidewalks, sewer, broadband, utilities, etc.) to support affordable or workforce housing 
• The purchase of land or property to be used for affordable and workforce housing 
• Repairs and rehabilitation of existing affordable and workforce housing
• Construction of affordable and workforce housing

Up to 20% of the funds available as zero-interest loans to assist with predevelopment expenses and planning for affordable or workforce housing projects.

Who: Authorizing the Wyoming Community Development Authority to create rules to facilitate the loan program

How: $30M from the Strategic Investment and Projects Account (SIPA)

When: Effective immediately with funds transferring on July 1, 2026