Housing Advocates Push Federal Policy Solutions to Expand Affordable Supply
(Source: PRN Newswire) – Housing advocates and policy leaders from across the nation recently came together to discuss federal solutions aimed at addressing one of the country’s most pressing challenges: the housing affordability and supply crisis. The panel, hosted on August 12 by the Center for California Real Estate (CCRE), brought together voices from multiple perspectives, highlighting both progress made and the path forward.
The conversation featured David Garcia, Policy Director for Up For Growth; Kim Johnson, Senior Director of Policy for the National Low Income Housing Coalition; and Leslie Gooch, CEO of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI). Together, they examined the barriers preventing new housing supply, as well as innovative solutions that could accelerate affordability at scale.
Manufactured Housing as a Scalable Solution
Manufactured housing is increasingly being recognized as a central part of the national affordability strategy. Leslie Gooch, CEO of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), emphasized that manufactured homes are emerging as a vital tool for the “missing middle” households that don’t qualify for subsidies but are being priced out of traditional single-family housing.
Gooch pointed to federal legislation currently under consideration that would modernize the nation’s outdated 50-year-old building code. This change, she explained, would open the door to a wider variety of home types and provide a federal seal of approval, giving local governments more confidence to integrate manufactured housing into zoning and planning decisions. “We need this legislative change that allows us to build more… to allow us to bring our houses to more places,” Gooch noted. “That federal seal is an important function of local government.”
She also highlighted the industry’s significant gains in model variety, sustainability, and modern design, which have reshaped perceptions and boosted demand for manufactured homes. In communities historically resistant to affordable housing, these improvements are breaking down opposition and even generating enthusiasm, as buyers and local leaders see how seamlessly today’s homes can fit into neighborhoods.
The combination of code standardization, enhanced energy efficiency, and innovative design has powerful potential to expand supply at scale. Manufactured housing offers an affordable infill option that can be delivered faster and at a lower cost than traditional single-family units. Panelists also referenced models like California’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program, which demonstrates how alternative housing solutions, when supported by policy, can deliver measurable results, signaling what manufactured housing could achieve on a national level.
