Axios Live: What housing leaders say could ease the crisis
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WASHINGTON — Addressing the cost of housing in the U.S. will require cooperation from local governments, targeted policy changes and sustained investment, said leaders in government, business and advocacy.
Why it matters: Home prices are soaring, and the passage of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act signals momentum toward tackling the crisis.
Axios' Nathan Bomey and Neil Irwin moderated the July 16 roundtable discussion. The event was sponsored by Citi.
5 big takeaways from the conversation:
- The new law, which went into effect this month, is "a reflection of the magnitude of this issue" and a rare example of what Democrats and Republicans can agree on as a priority, Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.) said.
- "Connecting the federal government with the state and local governments will be a longer-term challenge," Bipartisan Policy Center executive vice president Dennis Shea said, but necessary to ensure all communities benefit from the legislation.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development should monitor how local communities use the funds they're granted, said Sara Bronin, founder of the National Zoning Atlas and CEO of Land Use Labs.
- Leaders at the state level are focusing on cultivating pro-housing local leaders and improving salience as an "electoral issue for young families," said Haley Lemieux, chief of staff at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
- "Homeownership and housing are two separate issues," Vested Communities founder Jason Boseck said, and policy should extend to address renters' needs such as incorporating shared equity. The conversation also included mentions of housing vouchers and preserving existing affordable housing.
Content from the sponsor's remarks:
In opening remarks, Citi head of enterprise services and public affairs Edward Skyler said housing innovation in the U.S. isn't living up to its potential.
- In the next five years, Citi is "going to work with for-profit developers [and] nonprofit developers that are doing supportive housing service as well."
