Officials explain regional housing issues to West Plains Chamber

WEST PLAINS — According to several local officials, housing availability in the area — and particularly the West Plains — ranges from “grossly inadequate” to even worse.

“We have a housing crisis,” Tom Hormel, president of the Washington Association of Realtors told an audience of about 100 attendees at a virtual West Plains Chamber of Commerce update on housing last Wednesday.

Hormel contrasted his assessment of the current situation with the last time the country faced a similar economic crisis in 2007, when questionable mortgage financing helped lead to a recession. Back then, Hormel said t...