La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Last month, I wrote about the workforce shortage, which is holding back our economy and critical services like healthcare.

The housing crisis is intertwined with our workforce shortage.

Even if a local business or hospital recruits a great candidate for a job, no one can take that position without a place to live.

Sometimes, the only home they can find or afford isn't anywhere near their work. That means they either can't take the job – or they suffer through long commutes every day, adding to traffic gridlock.

We must solve these two problems together.

Adding more affordable housing...