HBAs Work with Governors to Address Housing Affordability

NAHB members across the country are committed to providing housing opportunities for all. To achieve this goal, HBAs are working with leadership in the state houses from both sides of the aisle. Associations such as the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts (HBRAMA) and the Santa Fe Area (N.M.) Home Builders Association (SFAHBA) are making inroads with legislators to advance pro-housing legislation.

Investing in Housing Production in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is facing a housing shortage. According to the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, 200,000 homes must be produced by 2023 to tackle the existing housing shortage and meet the growing demand.

On Oct. 18, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey unveiled the Affordable Homes Act, a comprehensive bill to increase housing production and invest in communities. The bill includes a mix of spending proposals, policy initiatives and executive orders and is the largest proposed investment in housing in the state’s history.

The proposed legislation didn’t happen overnight. Rob Brennan, chair of the HBRAMA Government Affairs Committee, says the committee reached out to members of the current administration before they took office to provide insights about housing affordability challenges in the state, including research supported by NAHB’s State and Local Issues Fund.

“A lot of our success was showing up and coming to the table with not just concerns, not just objections, but coming to the table with how to advance housing, particularly workforce housing in the commonwealth at market rate,” said Brennan.

The HBA plans to continue to work with the current administration on the bill and other housing advocates to help build more homes in the state.

Building Relationships to Build Communities

Santa Fe, N.M., area home buyers are facing similar issues related to housing affordability. SFAHBA has many members who are actively advocating on behalf of the residential construction industry.

Several HBA members recently attended a Western Governors Association (WGA) luncheon with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Miles D. Conway, executive officer of SFAHBA, who participated in the luncheon, said the governor called on HBA members to build more homes and invited members to bring their best ideas to the table.

“The WGA, and New Mexico specifically, is lucky to have a nimble and solutions-oriented governor at the helm in the midst of this housing affordability crisis that is impacting the entire nation,” said Conway.  “Gov. Lujan Grisham continues to be a responsive partner for our home building industry, using the powers of her office to cut red tape and press for innovative programs that abide with NAHB’s key strategies for achieving housing affordability goals.” 

To access resources to promote housing affordability in your community visit NAHB's State and Local resources page.