The Center for American Progress (CAP) has released three new reports addressing the pressing need for innovative solutions to expand the U.S. housing supply, particularly for low- and moderate-income households. The reports emphasize the urgent necessity of federal intervention in response to a long-standing shortage of affordable housing, with nearly half of all rental households spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent.
The first report builds on the Biden-Harris administration’s 2022 Housing Supply Action Plan. It proposes a competitive federal program aimed at rewarding local governments that reform land use and zoning regulations to permit more infill housing. This report introduces the Building Opportunity program, which would incentivize local governments to adopt aggressive reforms such as allowing taller apartment buildings along transit corridors, eliminating minimum parking requirements, and permitting accessory dwelling units.
The second report focuses on strengthening the affordable housing safety net by rehabilitating existing public housing, expanding public housing supply, and increasing Housing Choice Vouchers. Additionally, it calls for a new social housing program to construct hundreds of thousands of units affordable for moderate-income households in opportunity-rich neighborhoods. These units would be designed to be financially self-sustaining and perpetually affordable.
The third report examines how the federal government can leverage existing programs to encourage the development of affordable, sustainable, and transit-accessible housing. It highlights how funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can be used effectively to build an equitable clean energy future while maximizing climate and equity benefits.
“America is not producing enough housing, creating a heavy financial burden for millions of families who are paying too much in rent. The housing crisis acts as a drag on our overall economic growth,” said Kevin DeGood, director of Infrastructure Policy at CAP and co-author of the reports. “The ideas put forward in these three reports represent an aggressive approach to tackling this long-standing crisis. We need more housing of all types, with a special focus on affordable housing for the millions of Americans who are poorly served by our current system.”
For further information or expert commentary, contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].
