Last week, NHC held its annual Solutions for Affordable Housing convening in Washington, D.C. Nearly 400 housers from across the country came together in person and virtually to discuss the nation’s most critical housing policy challenges while focusing on tangible, impactful, and achievable solutions. Affordable housing experts, industry leaders, and policymakers helped attendees build a deeper understanding of key national housing issues and the interplay between federal, state, and local policies that shape them.
Kicking off the event, Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) joined me for a fireside chat, where we discussed a wide array of topics including housing policy, bipartisan collaboration, and economic development. Senator Warner highlighted the urgency of tackling the affordable housing crisis and discussed several bipartisan measures he is working on to address the issue in the next Congress. Acknowledging that housing had been largely overlooked during the COVID-19 relief efforts despite trillions in spending, Senator Warner stated, “I think there is a clear acknowledgment that it’s housing’s time.”
Among the issues discussed was the need to pass the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which Senator Warner said he will re-introduce in January, and make the New Markets Tax Credit permanent. Senator Warner also emphasized the importance of addressing the racial wealth gap through innovative solutions like the Low-Income First-Time (LIFT) Homebuyers Act, which he introduced in Congress to help first-generation, first-time homebuyers build equity faster.
We also discussed creative approaches for addressing the affordable housing shortage, with Senator Warner sharing that he is exploring using tax incentives to convert decaying shopping centers into multi-use housing and retail spaces as “there is not a community in America, whether it be rural, suburban, or urban, that doesn’t have a decaying shopping center.” He further explained that he thought we could “build a hugely broad coalition” around the idea of a shopping center conversion tax incentive or program. “I love the new market tax credit, LIHTC, and historic tax credit but we need some fresh new ideas to stir the pot,” Senator Warner said.
NHC also hosted a discussion with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), where she addressed the election, the future of the Democratic party, prospects for bipartisanship in a highly partisan political environment, and whether the affordable housing crisis can bring the parties together around real solutions.
“I’ve always reached across the aisle. The American people are tired of the partisan bickering…they want to see us work together to solve problems,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “I think there are colleagues in Congress that I have deep respect for, that I will be able to work with on a number of issues that matter to the American people. That is what I want to focus on.”
During our discussion on the nationwide shortage of affordable housing, Congresswoman Dingell emphasized that it remains one of the most pressing issues facing the country. “If you are in a community, if you’re talking to everyday people, it’s just there is a shortage of affordable housing, period,” she said. “It’s critical to the survival of a lot of our larger cities, and young people can’t afford to buy a house.”
She urged attendees to keep highlighting the critical need for affordable housing to both the new administration and Congress. “We need help. Help us make this an issue,” Congresswoman Dingell said. “I think if you could get some of the Republicans in the administration to say this really has to happen, we can bring the Democrats along.” Congresswoman Dingell urged NHC members to reach out to Republican mayors, who are struggling with housing affordability and will be impactful interlocutors with the new Congress.
In addition to Senator Warner and Congresswoman Dingell, attendees also heard from a diverse group of panels, focusing on a wide range of topics, including the impact of the elections on a 2025 housing agenda, the housing insurance crisis, preserving generational wealth, the effects of rent regulation on renters and landlords, how the new real estate commission structure affects homebuyers, modernizing federal housing programs, addressing homelessness as a health issue, the challenge of missing middle housing, and more.
These panel sessions, along with Senator Warner’s and Congresswoman Dingell’s fireside chats, will be available in the upcoming days at nhc.org.
NHC is grateful to Bank of America, JPMorganChase, Wells Fargo, Rocket Mortgage, Navy Federal Credit Union, National Multifamily Housing Council, AARP, Airbnb, CoreLogic, the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, Enterprise Community Partners, Freddie Mac, NeighborWorks® America, Pretium, and the National Association of REALTORS® for their generous sponsorship of this event.
The push for tangible, impactful, and achievable solutions continues to gain momentum across political lines and within communities. As we gear up for 2025, this is a pivotal moment for housing policy and housers to ensure today’s most critical housing challenges are addressed.