Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook Provides Solutions for Addressing Nation’s Housing Supply Crisis

(CHICAGO - May 15, 2024) — The U.S. is short nearly four million housing units. As cities, towns, and communities grapple with the ongoing housing crisis, the American Planning Association (APA) and the National League of Cities (NLC) released the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook: Solutions, Systems, Partnerships. The playbook is a game-changer — designed to inspire actionable strategies to generate diverse, attainable, and equitable solutions for addressing the housing supply crisis within our communities.

The Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook is a roadmap for communities to effectively navigate their housing supply challenges. Recommendations for collective actions, system changes, and solutions were collected over the past year during nationwide convenings that dove into key drivers of the nation's local housing supply challenges — construction, finance, and land use. These convenings brought together everyone who plays a part in advancing the nation's housing supply — local government officials, community planners, builders, financial institutions, real estate professionals, housing policy associations as well as state and federal partners.

Access the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook: Solutions, Systems, and Partnerships

"We need to supercharge local efforts to speed housing production. Status quo housing policies are broken — adding cost, time, and barriers to frequently cumbersome and inequitable systems," said Angela D. Brooks, FAICP, president of APA and co-chair of the national campaign. "The range of solutions in the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook are forward-thinking and unleash planners' data-driven insights and deep understanding of local trends to accelerate housing supply."

A steering committee of local elected leaders and planners brought their unique perspectives and experiences in housing policy, planning, or development to the initiative. The steering committee, co-chaired by Angela D. Brooks, and Tempe, Arizona, Mayor Corey Woods, was integral in providing input and feedback on the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook.

"The shortage of housing demands urgent attention at the local level," said Mayor Corey Woods. "That's why we've created the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, a resource offering scalable solutions tailored for cities, towns, and villages. This playbook offers an opportunity for cities to learn about, reflect on, and consider best and promising practices so that they can then tailor their housing supply strategy to meet their community's needs."

Housing Supply Accelerator Campaign

APA and NLC launched the Housing Supply Accelerator national campaign in 2023 to focus on improving efforts locally to address housing needs and housing production and preservation goals, identifying a shared responsibility among public-private partners to address the housing supply crisis highlighting tried and true innovative solutions, and encouraging systematic changes that enable local elected officials, community planners, and actors in the housing supply ecosystem to work together. The Housing Supply Accelerator aims to empower local leaders and planners to drive meaningful changes for the impact of the housing crisis on communities nationwide.

Thanks to the core partners that have supported the initiative including the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Realtors®, and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

About American Planning Association

The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides vital leadership in creating great communities for all. APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the profession of planning, offering better choices for where and how people work and live. APA's nearly 40,000 members work in concert with community residents, civic leaders, and business interests to create communities that enrich people's lives. Connect with APA on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Instagram.

About National League of Cities

The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America's cities, towns, and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy, and drive innovative solutions. As the oldest and largest organization representing cities in America, NLC is focused on the issues that matter most to cities – from the largest metros to the smallest towns. The National League of Cities is a trusted partner to local cities and a steadfast voice for municipal issues in Washington, D.C. Connect with NLC on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Contact:

Roberta Rewers, APA, 312.786.6395; rrewers@planning.org

NLC Media, media@nlc.org