NAHB Helps HBAs Reduce Barriers to Housing Affordability

At the 2024 Spring Leadership Meeting, NAHB’s State and Local Government Affairs Committee awarded eight home builders associations (HBAs) with financial assistance, totaling $128,250, through the State and Local Issues Fund (SLIF) to help with advocacy efforts on housing affordability issues.

Fund recipients include the BIA of San Diego, Charlotte DeSoto (N.C.) BIA, HBRA of Central New York, HBRA of Illinois, Anchorage (Alaska) HBA, HBA of Greater Portland (Ore.), Southeast Wyoming BA and MBA of Greater Milwaukee.

Quantifying the Consequences of a Vehicle Miles Traveled Policy

In 2021, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors adopted a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) policy to comply with the requirements of SB 743. SB 743 is the 2013 law that changed the required standard for traffic analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act from “level of service” to vehicle miles traveled. To implement this new law, every city and county in the state had to adopt a “significance threshold” identifying the level of VMT that could have a significant impact on the environment. SLIF will be used to develop data for BIA of San Diego staff to utilize in coalition building and advocacy efforts.

Educating the Younger Generations on the Importance of Voting

Since 2020, Charlotte County has experienced a shift in residents and voters. Many new people are moving to the community and advocating to stop building. The younger generation is voting less frequently. As a retirement community, the older population is growing and voting for anti-growth candidates. The hope is to educate the community through gatherings around town and with local relationships with national influencers, especially the younger population, on the importance of voting and how their abstention from voting contributes to a lack of attainable housing options for themselves.

Mitigating the Influx from the CHIPS Investment

The Central New York region is preparing for unprecedented growth with the development of a new manufacturing plant. The goal is to allocate resources to obtain the necessary data to develop effective messaging supporting new residential building. Residential construction is not licensed or registered in New York, and while permits are required for new builds and remodels, data collection is challenging because of the numerous local municipalities with varying reporting systems. SLIF will be used to provide information and conduct working sessions to educate local planning and zoning board members about industry issues and potential solutions for streamlining data collection.

Opposing Codes and Bans

In 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed, and Gov. Pritzker signed into law, the Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which mandated the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) develop a statewide Energy Stretch Code by Dec. 31, 2023. When it became clear that CDB would not meet the deadline, the General Assembly granted a six-month extension to June 30, 2024. SLIF will help home builders continue to oppose the code at CDB, despite some improvements.

Revolutionizing Affordable Housing

The Anchorage Home Builders Association (AHBA) is eager to collaborate with NAHB to address challenges posed by local zoning and design codes in the municipality of Anchorage. SLIF will provide AHBA with the necessary financial resources to improve access to affordable housing and foster new opportunities and partnerships with industry experts.

Seeking to Defend Progress and Shape Future

Following the conclusion of Oregon’s legislative session, the HBA of Greater Portland seeks to reshape Portland’s political landscape for future generations. The recently passed charter reform package, approved by voters, will significantly alter power structures and create a political leadership vacuum in the city of Portland. SLIF will support political operations focused on electing pragmatic, business-friendly candidates.

Battling Regulatory Challenges

The city of Cheyenne has faced regulatory challenges with the city council. SLIF will help the Southeast Wyoming Builders Association educate local and state candidates on housing issues, promote the city’s new permitting system and fund local impact studies.

Fighting Impact Fees

The Metropolitan Builders Association (MBA) of Greater Milwaukee, with the support of its Construction Advocacy Council (CAC), is challenging the city of Delafield’s improper collection, accounting and administration of impact fees over the past two decades through an appeal filed on Dec. 19, 2023. Delays are attributed to staffing shortages. MBA believes the city is stalling and may not take action on the appeal. A lawsuit is anticipated within the next few months to compel a response or address a potential denial of the appeal, and SLIF will be used for legal fees.