Per NLIHC, “Senator Todd Young (R-IN) introduced on June 20 the “Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act” (S. 1919), which aims to increase transparency and encourage affordable housing development in more communities by requiring Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients to explain why they do not implement inclusive zoning practices that help increase housing opportunities for low- and middle-income residents.
The YIMBY Act would encourage the implementation of 20 anti-discriminatory land-use policies to facilitate the creation of new affordable housing in more communities. The list covers policies such as rezoning areas for high-density housing, encouraging mixed-use development and transit-oriented development, reducing minimum-lot-size requirements, allowing accessory dwellings, and reducing the number of historic buildings, among other provisions. The bill would require CDBG grantees to submit a report every five years stating: 1) if they have implemented anti-discriminatory land use policies 2) if they plan to implement the policies or 3) the reasons why they have not adopted the policies. These reports would have no impact on the amount of money grantees receive…”
Young hails from Indiana, which in many respects was the ‘birthplace’ of the mobile home industry that evolved into today’s manufactured housing.
In a somewhat related issue, MHProNews has reached out earlier today to Senator Young’s office for comment on a controversial industry figure and related, see that, linked below.
But this piece of legislation by the now senior senator from Indiana might be promising; at least as a vehicle to spark discussion of manufactured home enhanced preemption, and some of the initiatives already underway by HUD Secretary Ben Carson.
As Senator Young’s media statement said, “Burdensome and discriminatory local zoning and land use policies drive up housing costs in communities across America. These policies exacerbate the housing affordability crisis and stifle the ability of Americans to move to areas of opportunity. My legislation will require cities, towns, and rural areas across America to face this reality under a new level of transparency and encourage them to cut these harmful regulations.”
The bill is linked here and above. As the NLIHC said in April, 2019, “The U.S. Has National Shortage of More Than 7.2 Million Affordable…” We may review this measure more in the days ahead, but at present GovTrack gives the measure only a 3 percent chance of enactment.
That said, the fact that it appears to have progressive support is noteworthy. There are good reasons to think that affordable housing may be an area that conservatives and progressives, Democrats and Republicans, can come together on. See the report linked below. As the featured image reminds us, the YIMBY movement is gaining steam on both sides of the U.S. and Canadian lines.
That’s this installment of manufactured and modular housing “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis, and commentary.)
Soheyla is a managing member of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn here and here.
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