The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act has officially become law, following overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. Smart Growth America President and CEO Beth Osborne issued the following statement:

Today, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act officially became law, marking the most significant federal housing legislation in generations. After decades in which Congress largely failed to address the nation's growing housing shortage, this broadly bipartisan law signals a long-overdue commitment to making it easier to build more homes. It comes at a critical moment as the nation grapples with one of the worst housing affordability crises in modern history. This bill would not have happened without the tireless efforts of advocates, state and local leaders, committee staff, and legislators, including Rep. French Hill (R-AR), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)—thank you for your leadership. 

This crisis wasn’t created overnight. Decades of building too few homes in the places people want to live have left supply far behind demand, driving up costs for families across the country. The bill recognizes that increasing housing supply is an essential part of the solution. We are particularly encouraged by the smart growth provisions that reduce unnecessary barriers to housing construction, help communities modernize outdated development practices, support affordable housing, and make it easier to build homes in existing neighborhoods.

To be clear, this bill is a critical first step, but it won't solve the problem on its own. Congress must now provide the sustained, long-term funding needed to ensure these reforms deliver on their promise. At the same time, federal agencies, states, local governments, and the private sector must work together to translate this law into more homes in the communities where people want to live.

Housing affordability has become the primary affordability issue facing Americans—but we cannot solve one affordability problem by creating another. We need more housing in the right places, of the types people want and need, at prices people can afford. Moreover, housing affordability cannot be separated from access to quality transportation options. Building homes in walkable, connected communities near jobs, schools, and everyday destinations lowers household costs, increases access to opportunity, and strengthens local economies.

Smart Growth America was proud to work alongside partners across the country to advance this legislation. We look forward to helping communities implement these reforms while continuing to advocate for the next generation of smart growth housing policies. We will also continue to push for dedicated smart growth legislation that incorporates critical reforms in transit-oriented development, zoning, and mixed-use development, while identifying opportunities to advance and fund housing through other legislative vehicles. In particular, we hope Congress uses the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization to remove barriers within the federal transportation program that make it harder to build housing in high-demand areas and better align transportation policies with the nation’s housing needs. 

Every person deserves to be able to afford a home in a community where they can thrive. Today's law moves us closer to that vision, but the work is far from finished.

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