Why Community Ideas Are Driving Jackson’s Housing Future

Over the past few months, the Jackson Innovation Team has led community-centered ideation sessions to co-create solutions for one of the city’s most urgent challenges: housing and blight. This effort builds on months of research, ride-alongs with code enforcement, interviews with residents and stakeholders, and a citywide housing survey.

So far, the team has hosted three ideation sessions:

Ideation Session 1: City Staff

City departments identified major bottlenecks — delays in permitting and inspections, misaligned demolition timelines, and communication gaps that slow service delivery. Staff emphasized the need for stronger systems, accountability, and coordination across departments.

Ideation Session 2: Community Voices Matter

Residents shared personal experiences and community priorities, including urgent needs related to housing repair, public safety, consistent blight removal, and clearer communication from the City. Trust and transparency were recurring themes.

Ideation Session 3: City Staff + Residents

In a joint session, city staff and residents worked together to align on shared goals. The group prioritized faster responses to blight, improved reporting and tracking tools, more accessible housing options, and stronger communication between the City and community.

Ideation Session 4: Final Co-Creation Workshop (Upcoming)

The final workshop will build on earlier insights and focus on refining ideas, including infill development pilots and neighborhood repair initiatives. Participants will help shape early-stage recommendations into actionable programs for 2026.

Why now — and why it matters

Blight, aging homes, and housing instability affect every part of Jackson. Whether you’re a renter, homeowner, developer, student, or city employee, your perspective is vital. These sessions offer a chance to design solutions that reflect Jackson’s values and priorities.

What’s next

The team will synthesize community input into program and policy recommendations in early 2026 and share a public report that outlines takeaways and proposed solutions. The goal is to ensure transparency, accountability, and ongoing collaboration.