OLYMPIA, Wash. – A new report finds that Washington will need to add 1.1 million housing units to accommodate population growth over the next 20 years.

That comes out to an average of 50,000 new housing units each year, with more than half of them affordable for the lowest income residents.

The Washington State Department of Commerce says the state will also need an additional 91,000 emergency housing beds for homeless individuals.

Affordable housing is defined as not costing more than 30% of a person’s income, and almost a third of Washington residents are paying more than that now.

The department’s Housing Policy Director says reaching the goal will take substantial government investment because of the difficulty private industry has in providing affordable homes.

The department has provided a Housing For All Planning Tool that communities can use to determine their specific needs over the next two decades.