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President Donald J. Trump is Tearing Down Red Tape in Order to Build More Affordable Housing

Economy & Jobs

Issued on:

BREAKING GROUND ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING: President Donald J. Trump is working to eliminate barriers that are holding back affordable housing development.

  • President Trump is signing an executive order to establish a White House Council on Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development.
    • The council will consist of members from across 8 Federal agencies and will be chaired by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson.
  • This new council will engage with State, local, and tribal leaders to identify and remove obstacles that impede the development of new affordable housing.
  • The Council will look at the affect Federal, State, and local regulations are having on the costs of developing affordable housing and the economy.
    • At the President’s direction, the Council will take action to reduce Federal regulatory barriers to affordable housing development.
    • The Council will support State and local efforts to reduce regulatory barriers.
    • The Council will recommend ways to reduce statutory, regulatory, and administrative burdens at all levels of government that hinder affordable housing development.
  • Creating this Council will streamline interagency processes and deliver results even faster.

CUTTING EXCESSIVE COSTS TO SPUR CONSTRUCTION: Regulations are creating excessive costs that are holding back the development of needed affordable housing.

  • Many of the markets with the most severe shortages in affordable housing have the most restrictive State and local regulatory barriers to development.
  • More than 25% of the cost of a new home is the direct result of Federal, State, and local regulations, with the price tag even reaching up to 42% for some new multifamily construction.
  • Costly regulations have contributed to a shortage of affordable homes.
    • Census Bureau data shows that from 2010 to 2016, only seven homes were built for every 10 households formed.
  • High housing prices are a primary determinant of homelessness, and research has directly linked more stringent housing market regulation to higher homelessness rates.

HELPING AMERICANS FIND A HOME: President Trump is building on efforts his Administration has taken to lift up all Americans and make it easier for them to find a home.

  • Earlier this year, President Trump signed a memorandum to initiate needed reforms to our housing finance system.
    • President Trump is working to improve Americans’ access to sustainable home mortgages.
    • The Trump Administration is committed to enabling Americans to access Federal housing programs that help them finance the purchase of their first home.
  • In 2018, HUD launched a campaign to encourage more landlords to participate in the Housing Voucher Program, the country’s largest rental subsidy program.