Nation's Building News Online

Legislative Group Makes Workforce Housing a Priority, Cites Regulatory Excess

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) — an influential, bipartisan coalition of state legislators from across the country — has formally adopted a model resolution supporting NAHB’s workforce housing initiative. The resolution was introduced by NAHB at ALEC’s annual meeting in Seattle in mid-summer and adopted as policy a month later.

Reflecting NAHB President Bobby Rayburn’s view on housing America’s working families, the ALEC endorsement will give a significant boost to legislation and policies that promote the mission of providing moderate-income employees the opportunity to obtain affordably priced housing in, or near, the communities they serve.

Emphasizing the need to house people like teachers, firefighters and police officers, the resolution advocates these policies in support of workforce housing:

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• Action by the states to eliminate cumbersome housing and development regulations and excessive fees and exactions
• Enactment of state “notice and opportunity to repair” legislation that provides builders with the opportunity to resolve differences with home buyers before a lawsuit is filed
• Partnerships involving home builders, community groups and local governments to enhance affordability and to increase the production of affordable housing

The resolution notes that families working in central cities have less than a one-in-three chance of finding a home that they can afford and the situation is slightly worse in the suburbs. And it identifies state and local regulatory barriers as part of the problem, pointing out that governmental delays and excesses can add as much as 20% to the cost of building a home in some areas of the country.

For more information on this model resolution, e-mail Carlos Gutierrez, NAHB’s director of industry relations, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8242.
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