New law a ‘major housing win’ for architects, AIA says

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act has become law, a bipartisan legislation intended to expand housing supply and improve access to affordable housing across the United States.

The law introduces a range of measures aimed at increasing housing production, updating federal housing programs, and addressing barriers to residential development. The legislation incorporates numerous proposals previously introduced in Congress to tackle housing affordability.

Among its provisions, the act expands the use of Community Development Block Grant funding for housing construction, creates new mechanisms to convert vacant and abandoned buildings into affordable housing, and establishes a seven-year Innovation Fund to support local housing initiatives. The law also updates the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, streamlines environmental review processes, and directs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a best-practice framework for zoning and land-use policies.