The Branson Board of Aldermen has given its support to a proposed affordable housing development in hopes that it will give the area's workforce better homes.

The $9.54 million development would be located on Green Mountain Drive and include 21 duplex style buildings, creating 42 homes. If approved by the state, the development would provide much-needed homes to families who work in the tourism industry.

"I think it's a bigger issue than what people realize," Stormy Snow, a paralegal at Tri-Lakes Law Firm said.

Snow works closely with some of Branson's most needed workers.

"Housekeeping, front desk, maintenance workers," Snow said.

They are workers that often make too little to buy or rent a Taney County home.

"These people are only bringing home about $1,400-1,450 and month and the average rent in Taney County is $700," Snow said.

That leaves many of them to live in extended stay hotels.

"A lot of them are finding dissatisfaction in the area as a whole, so we hate the through that people have to leave to find adequate housing or better employment," Snow said.

Retaining that workforce is one of the reasons, city leaders gave their support of the proposed development.

"The workforce housing topic is something the city has been looking at for several years," Director of Planning and Development Joel Hornickel said.

Hornickel says while the development would help with the housing problem, this particular project is far from complete.

"It's a very competitive process with the state. There are people from all over the state, St. Louis area, Kansas City area, all going for the same pot of money that continues to get smaller and smaller," Hornickel said.

In Branson alone, Hornickel says they get one of two requests for this type of development every year, all in hopes of giving all Branson residents better homes.

"There is definitely a need," Hornickel said.