Housing Supply Accelerator

A partnership between the American Planning Association (APA) and the National League of Cities (NLC), the Housing Supply Accelerator is a national campaign to improve local capacity, identify critical solutions, and speed reforms that enable communities and developers to work together to produce, preserve and provide a diverse range of quality housing by realigning the efforts of public and private stakeholders in the housing sector to meet housing needs at the local level.

Information & Resources

About the Campaign

Steering Committee

FAQs

Resources

About the Campaign

The Housing Supply Accelerator will bring together local governments, community planners, builders, financial institutions, housing policy associations and state and federal partners to develop, align and advance solutions for housing supply challenges at the local level.

Through this solutions-oriented campaign, we will develop model practices, ordinances and actionable resources to accelerate and incentivize local approaches to land use, housing development and preservation.

Steering Committee

A steering committee of local leaders and planners, each with unique perspectives and experience in housing policy, planning, or development have been appointed by the campaign co-chairs. These representatives are actively working within their respective communities to identify and apply solutions on the front lines of the national housing crisis. The steering committee will begin guiding efforts on three areas of focus over the course of the campaign: zoning and regulatory reform; construction and development; and finance.

Why are NLC and APA Partnering Together Now?

Housing Stability is a Prerequisite for Economic Mobility, Job Security, and Health and Well-Being

Housing is the single biggest factor impacting economic mobility for most Americans. When residents have stable living conditions, the benefits are apparent — students do better in school and health outcomes improve. Communities benefit as a whole from this stability. Opportunities for investment growth and economic prosperity develop when housing policies and products serve the needs of residents across generations and income levels. It's up to local governments and leaders to evaluate and reform ordinances and rules to create positive outcomes for residents and communities.

The Affordable Housing Crisis Harms Every Community

In many places, housing instability and homelessness are outpacing the capacity of local governments, housing developers and financial institutions to meet the evolving housing needs of cities and towns. Although localities are not impacted equally, every city, town, and village, from urban to rural, is negatively impacted by the housing crisis. Because housing markets are regional, clashing ordinances related to housing and homelessness can drive racial inequities and produce negative economic outcomes across a region.

Every Level of Government is Being Pressured to Act

Elected officials at every level of government are hearing from constituents that housing is a major problem where they live. In response, cities and states are pursuing a wide range of different, and sometimes contentious, solutions.

Local Governments and Leaders an Essential Part of the Solution

Local leaders are pushing the boundaries of what's possible for local governments to meet demand for housing. Cities are experimenting with zoning and code reforms and, lacking other alternatives, some are building housing on their own.

Annual federal funds for housing and homeless assistance programs are deeply appreciated but insufficient to meet the demand. Local governments are filling gaps by using one-time funds through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to finance the production and preservation of housing. The Housing Supply Accelerator will help localities do more with their housing dollars and maintain their efforts even after these one-time programs wind down.

Stay Up-to-Date

In the coming weeks, key housing supply stakeholders, housing association partners and housing policy partners will be directly invited to participate in the Housing Supply Accelerator.

Local government leaders and planners will also have an opportunity to provide critical insight to this campaign through engagement with National League of Cities and the American Planning Association.

Resources

Policy Guide

Equity in Zoning Policy Guide

APA's Equity in Zoning Policy Guide prioritizes reversing and alleviating the disproportionate impacts of zoning through all parts of the zoning process. The guide also provides community planers with solutions to allow communities to boost housing supply, production, and fairness.

Planning Magazine

Planners Can Lead the Zoning Reform Movement

How to push for ADUs, TOD, and pro-housing policy at every level of government, from expert and APA president-elect Angela D. Brooks, FAICP.

Planning Magazine

What Is Zoning Reform and Why Do We Need It?

The case for change, why planners support it, and six zoning reform tactics that could help curb housing costs.

Planning Magazine

Zoning Reform Creates New Model for Smart Growth in Walla Walla, Washington

How the rural city eliminated single-family-only zoning, legalized ADUs, and relaxed parking minimums to promote housing diversity.