In the wake of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act becoming law, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a Housing Advisory Council with the goal of advancing market-driven policies that help increase housing supply and promote affordability, “informed by the companies that build, finance, and supply housing.” “Federal housing reforms have created an opportunity to turn policy momentum into real progress on one of the country’s most pressing economic challenges,” per the Chamber of Commerce release. March analysis from the agency indicates that the U.S. faces a shortage of 4.7 million homes. The council is focused on three main areas: - Addressing outdated zoning, land use and permitting processes that add time, cost and uncertainty to housing development - Unlocking capital to support housing production via policy and market solutions that improve certainty and liquidity, while mobilizing private capital to scale development - Expanding skilled trade pipelines, apprenticeships and employer-education partnerships to mitigate labor shortages that limit how quickly housing can be built Several of the solutions the council is advancing have clear relevance for multifamily, Makinizi Hoover, senior director of housing policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, told Multifamily Dive in emailed comments. Hoover cited the Strong Foundations playbook for housing and economic growth, released in March, which the agency co-authored with the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute. Among the strategies the document calls for is “flexibility to build homes near jobs,” namely updating zoning to allow residential construction in certain areas historically designated for non-residential use, such as shopping centers. “This approach can help transform underutilized commercial properties into housing, including multifamily development, while bringing residents closer to jobs, retail, and other amenities,” Hoover said. “We're also interested in reforms that reduce the time, cost, and uncertainty associated with housing development. Excessive regulations are