NAA members advocated for the YIMBY Act during NAA's 2021 Advocate conference, which will help eliminate barriers to housing development and help address the country's housing affordability crisis.
On May 13, the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act legislation was reintroduced in both the House and the Senate. As previously reported, NAA and NMHC have been vocal supporters of this legislation since its introduction in the 116th Congress.
If passed, this legislation would remove barriers to housing development and help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis. Specifically, it would 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 options. For example, the bill encourages communities to play a constructive role in solving the housing crisis by recognizing and eliminating exclusionary housing policies.
As the country emerges from the pandemic, the provisions included in this legislation have never been more needed. Our nation’s housing affordability challenges were only worsened by the financial crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. As millions of Americans struggle to find housing that is affordable, policymakers must look to solutions that will increase supply and, in turn, ease affordability. That’s why NAA and NMHC are hopeful this legislation will, again, garner bipartisan support as it moves through both chambers.
NAA and NMHC issued a joint statement following the introdcution of the YIMBY Act.