ARLINGTON, VA | May 14, 2021 – Statement from the National Apartment Association (NAA) and National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) on the introduction of the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act:
NAA and NMHC are pleased to see the introduction of the YIMBY Act, legislation that will remove barriers to housing development and help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis if signed into law.
The rental housing industry strongly supports the passage of the YIMBY Act, sponsored by a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers, and thanks Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), and Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R-Ind.) for their leadership on the issue. This critical legislation will encourage localities to eliminate discriminatory land use policies and remove barriers that prevent needed housing from being built around the country by requiring Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients to report periodically on the extent to which they are removing discriminatory land use policies and implementing inclusive and affordable housing programs.
The need for additional housing is apparent and there is no doubt communities across the country are facing serious housing affordability challenges – especially after more than a year of pandemic-related financial distress. NAA and NMHC research illustrates the need for increased housing development, having found that we need to build 328,000 apartments every year between 2016 and 2030 to meet the nation’s housing needs. However, the apartment industry currently faces significant barriers to new apartment construction, development and renovation.
On behalf of the apartment industry and the 40 million Americans who live in apartment homes, NAA and NMHC look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers in both parties to move forward on legislation aimed at achieving real solutions to the housing affordability crisis.
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For more than 25 years, the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) have partnered on behalf of America's apartment industry. Drawing on the knowledge and policy expertise of staff in Washington, D.C., as well as the advocacy power of 151 NAA state and local affiliated associations, NAA and NMHC provide a single voice for developers, owners and operators of multifamily rental housing. One-third of all Americans rent their housing, and 40 million of them live in an apartment home.