This crisis manifests differently across West Virginia. In many cities and towns, dozens of dilapidated homes sit vacant or abandoned, putting strain on property values and local tax bases. In tourism hubs like Elkins and Lewisburg, locals are being priced out of homeownership as single-family homes are converted to short-term rentals and vacation homes. Historical mining communities still have thousands of residents living in run-down former company housing. All these challenges are exacerbated by a shortage of buildable land resulting from WV’s irregular topography, a shortage of skilled workers in the construction trades, and decades of underinvestment in housing production.