Welcoming Neighbors Network
@welcomingneighbors.us
A network of local organizations working to fix the US housing shortage. Our members win pro-housing policy change. We can help you do the same. welcomingneighbors.us.
The narrow concerns of local NIMBYs are a “disaster for housing in the US.”
Leaders — especially at the state level — should stand up to naysayers and do what’s right.
Leaders — especially at the state level — should stand up to naysayers and do what’s right.
Local Resistance Exacerbates US Housing Shortage - Davis Vanguard
The fractured nature of American government has created a major obstacle to solving the nation's housing crisis, but the ROAD to Housing Act, which introduces a framework for federal incentives for…
davisvanguard.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The narrow concerns of local NIMBYs are a “disaster for housing in the US.”
Leaders — especially at the state level — should stand up to naysayers and do what’s right.
Leaders — especially at the state level — should stand up to naysayers and do what’s right.
We should build a lot more of the safest types of homes.
Modern Multifamily Buildings Provide the Most Fire Protection
A large body of research has demonstrated that apartment buildings and other types of multifamily housing can provide many benefits to a community, especially when built in high-demand areas where…
www.pew.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
We should build a lot more of the safest types of homes.
“Back in 1998, the median New Hampshire home was 2.8 times more expensive than the median income could afford … Today, that same median home is 5.5 times more expensive.”
Idk seems like a problem??
Idk seems like a problem??
For average families, New Hampshire homes are more unaffordable than ever • New Hampshire Bulletin
New Hampshire’s housing market has an income gap problem. The median household income has doubled since 1998, hovering at just under $100,000 today. But home prices have jumped at a much faster rate.
newhampshirebulletin.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:04 PM
“Back in 1998, the median New Hampshire home was 2.8 times more expensive than the median income could afford … Today, that same median home is 5.5 times more expensive.”
Idk seems like a problem??
Idk seems like a problem??
Strong coalitions across ideological divides make change possible. And, in that regard, “the YIMBY movement is showing it can be done.”
YIMBYtown 2025 Puts National Momentum for More Housing on Full Display » The Urbanist
# The sixth YIMBYtown conference, held earlier this month in Connecticut, represented a major change from its first iteration in 2016. The factors that have led to YIMBYtown going mainstream are…
www.theurbanist.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Strong coalitions across ideological divides make change possible. And, in that regard, “the YIMBY movement is showing it can be done.”
As prices skyrocket due to a national shortage of homes, more and more people are priced out of the market — even in jurisdictions working hard to end homelessness.
We need a lot more homes. And we needed them yesterday.
We need a lot more homes. And we needed them yesterday.
Houston had outpaced the nation in addressing homelessness. Now it’s facing a setback.
The city’s unsheltered homeless population jumped 16% in 2025, new point-in-time data shows.
www.smartcitiesdive.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
As prices skyrocket due to a national shortage of homes, more and more people are priced out of the market — even in jurisdictions working hard to end homelessness.
We need a lot more homes. And we needed them yesterday.
We need a lot more homes. And we needed them yesterday.
“You can’t legislate babies by legislating big houses”
Families need steps up the ladder, not proscriptive mandates, with homes of all sizes to choose from.
Families need steps up the ladder, not proscriptive mandates, with homes of all sizes to choose from.
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
“You can’t legislate babies by legislating big houses”
Families need steps up the ladder, not proscriptive mandates, with homes of all sizes to choose from.
Families need steps up the ladder, not proscriptive mandates, with homes of all sizes to choose from.
More and more people, year after year, are waking up to the need for abundant housing.
Survey Says NH Voters Changing Their Tune on Zoning Changes, Other Means, to Build Housing: Business NH Magazine
A majority of New Hampshire voters think their community needs more affordable housing, and are in favor of changing land use regulations to do it, according to a new survey.
www.businessnhmagazine.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
More and more people, year after year, are waking up to the need for abundant housing.
“The shortage of compact, walkable, and Transit-Oriented Communities in the state is not driven by free market forces, but rather by restrictive land use regulations.”
We can fix that.
We can fix that.
Report: Transit zones house nearly half of CT’s residents, despite covering just 9% of land
Areas within walking distance of transit stops contain nearly half of Connecticut’s households and two-thirds of its jobs, while covering just 9% of the land, according to a new report […]
hartfordbusiness.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
“The shortage of compact, walkable, and Transit-Oriented Communities in the state is not driven by free market forces, but rather by restrictive land use regulations.”
We can fix that.
We can fix that.
Housing is popular. Who knew?
Californians strongly support the Governor’s strategy to create more housing | Governor of California
Official website of the State of California
www.gov.ca.gov
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Housing is popular. Who knew?
Not for nothing, but Jack Ciattarelli's campaign's polling peaked right before he started running ads about how more housing is bad.
feeling personally invested in the new jersey governor’s race after seeing this “STOP OVERDEVELOPMENT” campaign ad which appears to only be on jack ciattarelli’s instagram page www.instagram.com/reel/DPUaYcs...
November 7, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Not for nothing, but Jack Ciattarelli's campaign's polling peaked right before he started running ads about how more housing is bad.
Pro-housing policy stay winning.
I truly never thought I’d see the day when Marin County voters went pro-housing; but they appear to have opted to upzone parts of Sausalito(!) and rejected the housing-centric recall effort against the mayor of Fairfax.
November 5, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Pro-housing policy stay winning.
An incomplete list of cities where housing abundance was a major campaign issue & pro-housing candidates held or expanded majorities:
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
We'll post a list sometime soon but in addition to all the D vs. R stories tonight, in basically every nonpartisan election in the country today, the more pro-housing candidate won.
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
An incomplete list of cities where housing abundance was a major campaign issue & pro-housing candidates held or expanded majorities:
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
We'll post a list sometime soon but in addition to all the D vs. R stories tonight, in basically every nonpartisan election in the country today, the more pro-housing candidate won.
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
We'll post a list sometime soon but in addition to all the D vs. R stories tonight, in basically every nonpartisan election in the country today, the more pro-housing candidate won.
We all want welcoming communities—but are they really inclusive if people can’t actually afford to live there?
Hear one queer New Yorker’s vision for how housing policy can support a vibrant queer community:
Hear one queer New Yorker’s vision for how housing policy can support a vibrant queer community:
For New York to remain a queer haven, we must build more homes
People move to New York because they believe in certain promises: a place where you’re free to be yourself, to thrive, and to find community. Especially for
gaycitynews.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
We all want welcoming communities—but are they really inclusive if people can’t actually afford to live there?
Hear one queer New Yorker’s vision for how housing policy can support a vibrant queer community:
Hear one queer New Yorker’s vision for how housing policy can support a vibrant queer community:
"If we follow the science we can identify excellent solutions to unaffordability problems."
The Housing Supply Debate: Evaluating the Evidence
Let's rely on science, not ideology and propaganda, when planning solutions to urban unaffordability. Look for credible evidence in the peer-reviewed publications referenced here.
www.planetizen.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
"If we follow the science we can identify excellent solutions to unaffordability problems."
California’s SB 79, now signed into law, is good for local businesses:
“Housing stability is business stability. Employees with shorter commutes stay longer, know the customers, and create the personal connections that set small businesses apart from corporate chains."
“Housing stability is business stability. Employees with shorter commutes stay longer, know the customers, and create the personal connections that set small businesses apart from corporate chains."
Location is Destiny: SB 79 is Critical Step to Housing Near Transit
Small businesses thrive when both workers and customers can afford to live nearby. In San Diego County, that gets harder every year. A new proposal in the Legis
www.sdbj.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:01 PM
California’s SB 79, now signed into law, is good for local businesses:
“Housing stability is business stability. Employees with shorter commutes stay longer, know the customers, and create the personal connections that set small businesses apart from corporate chains."
“Housing stability is business stability. Employees with shorter commutes stay longer, know the customers, and create the personal connections that set small businesses apart from corporate chains."
“Accessibility-based planning recognizes that mobility is seldom an end in itself; the ultimate goal of most travel is to access services and activities.”
In other words, we need lots more homes near the places meaningful and useful to people.
In other words, we need lots more homes near the places meaningful and useful to people.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than…
www.planetizen.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
“Accessibility-based planning recognizes that mobility is seldom an end in itself; the ultimate goal of most travel is to access services and activities.”
In other words, we need lots more homes near the places meaningful and useful to people.
In other words, we need lots more homes near the places meaningful and useful to people.
Allowing ADUs by right is a good thing. Kudos to MA for preventing nosy NIMBYs from standing in the way of these home choices.
Under new state law, abutters have little say over accessory dwelling units
Under the new state bylaw, residents don’t have much of a say if their neighbors decide to build an ADU, according to inspector Jim Bone.
thelocalnews.news
October 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Allowing ADUs by right is a good thing. Kudos to MA for preventing nosy NIMBYs from standing in the way of these home choices.
Permitting is all too often a “death by a thousand cuts” operation. It quietly stifles housing production, maintaining the exclusionary and expensive status quo.
We need permitting processes that help us achieve our goals: efficient, affordable, and effective.
We need permitting processes that help us achieve our goals: efficient, affordable, and effective.
San Francisco’s permitting reform seeks an end to building project ‘death by a thousand cuts’
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s latest permitting reform package loosens restrictions on historic buildings, reduces fees and clears the path for accessory dwelling units in the city.
www.smartcitiesdive.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Permitting is all too often a “death by a thousand cuts” operation. It quietly stifles housing production, maintaining the exclusionary and expensive status quo.
We need permitting processes that help us achieve our goals: efficient, affordable, and effective.
We need permitting processes that help us achieve our goals: efficient, affordable, and effective.
Great explainer on how a coalition spanning a broad ideological spectrum can work together to make housing abundance happen. Here’s what they’re doing in Virginia:
How the Commonwealth Housing Coalition fights for more housing in Virginia
Virginians concerned about the housing shortage can join the Commonwealth Housing Coalition, which is preparing to advocate in the 2026 General Assembly Session. Statewide reform could legalize more h...
ggwash.org
October 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Great explainer on how a coalition spanning a broad ideological spectrum can work together to make housing abundance happen. Here’s what they’re doing in Virginia:
“In the face of simultaneous affordability and climate crises, these policies have the double benefits of reducing housing costs and transportation costs while also reducing GHG emissions. The need is immense, and the opportunity is clear.”
That’s 100% right.
That’s 100% right.
Colorado’s 2024 land use reforms on ADUs, parking, and TOD were a big step.
But the real climate and affordability gains come when cities go beyond the minimums.
Let’s double down on smart growth to cut emissions, costs, and wildfire risk.
Here's our breakdown:
housingforwardco.org/five-ways-sm...
But the real climate and affordability gains come when cities go beyond the minimums.
Let’s double down on smart growth to cut emissions, costs, and wildfire risk.
Here's our breakdown:
housingforwardco.org/five-ways-sm...
Five ways smart land use policies tackle climate change in Colorado
Strategic growth policies can reduce emissions from transportation and buildings while saving residents money and protecting open lands.
housingforwardco.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
“In the face of simultaneous affordability and climate crises, these policies have the double benefits of reducing housing costs and transportation costs while also reducing GHG emissions. The need is immense, and the opportunity is clear.”
That’s 100% right.
That’s 100% right.
Outdated parking mandates force us to build extra asphalt where we could instead create more of the homes that people urgently need, especially near transit.
Chicago shows the way: You can build a home near CTA rail & high-volume bus lines, no administrative approval needed to forgo excess parking.
Chicago shows the way: You can build a home near CTA rail & high-volume bus lines, no administrative approval needed to forgo excess parking.
Chicago eases parking mandates to spur affordable housing development
Developments near public transit can reduce the amount of off-street parking by up to 100% without administrative approval.
www.smartcitiesdive.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Outdated parking mandates force us to build extra asphalt where we could instead create more of the homes that people urgently need, especially near transit.
Chicago shows the way: You can build a home near CTA rail & high-volume bus lines, no administrative approval needed to forgo excess parking.
Chicago shows the way: You can build a home near CTA rail & high-volume bus lines, no administrative approval needed to forgo excess parking.
Over 1,000 (!) folks, including many state and local elected officials, joined WNN member VOICE and the Commonwealth Housing Coalition to rally for pro-housing solutions this weekend.
The movement is growing. The people demand action!
The movement is growing. The people demand action!
Gaskins joins new pro-housing caucus at rally of nearly 1,000 | ALXnow
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins joined hundreds of people Sunday at a major rally in Herndon launching a statewide push for affordable housing legislation, part of a growing coalition effort that drew…
www.alxnow.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Over 1,000 (!) folks, including many state and local elected officials, joined WNN member VOICE and the Commonwealth Housing Coalition to rally for pro-housing solutions this weekend.
The movement is growing. The people demand action!
The movement is growing. The people demand action!
Build more homes, keep more teachers.
"In places where rising housing costs have outpaced typical teacher salaries—a problem not only in cities like Baltimore, but in rural and suburban areas as well—school districts are struggling with significant teacher shortages and high turnover rates."
"In places where rising housing costs have outpaced typical teacher salaries—a problem not only in cities like Baltimore, but in rural and suburban areas as well—school districts are struggling with significant teacher shortages and high turnover rates."
Is Housing the Key to Attracting Teachers? These Folks Think So.
Teacher shortages and high housing prices are leading to efforts across the U.S. to provide educators with affordable housing options.
shelterforce.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Build more homes, keep more teachers.
"In places where rising housing costs have outpaced typical teacher salaries—a problem not only in cities like Baltimore, but in rural and suburban areas as well—school districts are struggling with significant teacher shortages and high turnover rates."
"In places where rising housing costs have outpaced typical teacher salaries—a problem not only in cities like Baltimore, but in rural and suburban areas as well—school districts are struggling with significant teacher shortages and high turnover rates."
Reposted by Welcoming Neighbors Network
A luxury apartment went up next door to me. And in my old, naturally below market rate apartment, I didn't get a rent increase for the first time in years. With my union raise this fall, that's a net decrease in rent (I am in the bottom quartile of incomes btw).
We need this at scale.
We need this at scale.
New housing is good, actually.
New Housing Slows Rent Growth Most for Older, More Affordable Units
The nationwide housing shortage has driven rents up more in low-income neighborhoods than in the U.S. overall, but in areas that have recently added large amounts of housing, rents have fallen the…
www.pew.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
A luxury apartment went up next door to me. And in my old, naturally below market rate apartment, I didn't get a rent increase for the first time in years. With my union raise this fall, that's a net decrease in rent (I am in the bottom quartile of incomes btw).
We need this at scale.
We need this at scale.