Over the summer, Senate and House leaders from both parties passed a joint version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the most ambitious—and long-overdue—federal housing legislation in generations. The act was a step in the right direction toward addressing the housing shortage and rising costs, but Congress still has work to do to put its provisions into practice and get projects on the ground.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act largely takes a supply-side approach, reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging infill development. Although passing the legislation was an important first step in addressing the housing shortage, it simply authorizes new programs without providing funding, so its success will depend on future appropriations and agency capacity to see them through.

This guide is designed to help congressional staff and legislative advocates understand the bill's components and what next steps are needed to implement them. That work centers on securing long-term funding for its new programs during appropriations, supporting the agencies that implement these provisions through engagement and capacity investments, and passing additional policies that advance transit-oriented and mixed-use development to fill gaps left by ROAD.

This one-page explainer outlines specific actions members of Congress can take to advance the smart-growth provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. If you have any questions, please contact Housing Advocacy Manager Aditya Mistry.

Download our one-page explainer