Build More Housing Near Transit Act
Ties federal transit funding to pro-housing zoning around stations.
What we're fighting for.
Everyone deserves a place to call home in the community they choose. Here are the changes we're fighting for, and the playbooks to win them.
5
Policy pillars
8
Playbooks, more in research
100%
Member-voted endorsements
Our three goals.
Undo exclusionary zoning
Many of today's rules were written to keep people out, first by race, then by income. Legalizing homes starts to unwind that.
End the shortage
Decades of underbuilding drive higher rents, more displacement, and more homelessness.
Protect the climate
Homes near jobs and transit mean shorter drives and smaller carbon footprints. Housing policy is climate policy.
The five pillars
The five pillars are what we push for everywhere. Each playbook below is how: a specific, proven policy that advances one of them, with receipts from the cities and states that already passed it.
Policy playbooks
Everything you need to take a policy from idea to ordinance: a plain-English summary, example bill language, the political dynamics, and where it's already won. Written for local advocates, legislators, and staffers.
Legalize housing
Accessory dwelling units
Legalize backyard cottages and in-law units on the lots people already own.
Open the playbook
Fund affordable housing
Affordable housing bonds
Put public money behind income-qualified homes — and win the ballot measures to fund them.
Streamline permitting
Elevator reform
Right-size America's outlier elevator codes so small apartment buildings pencil again.
Open the playbook
Legalize housing
Housing near jobs
Require job-rich, transit-rich areas to allow the homes their workers need.
Open the playbook
Streamline permitting
Office-to-housing conversions
Make it easy to turn empty offices into apartments people actually live in.
Open the playbook
Fix incentives
Parking reform
End mandatory parking minimums — a hidden tax that adds tens of thousands of dollars to every new home.
Open the playbook
Increase housing stability
Replacement homes & right to return
When older housing is redeveloped, require replacement homes and give displaced residents first claim on them.
Legalize housing
Single-stair reform
Legalize the small, family-sized apartment buildings most of the world builds — one stair, up to six stories.
Open the playbook
Streamline permitting
Third-party permit approval
Let licensed private reviewers clear permit backlogs when city staff can't keep up.
Open the playbook
Legalize housing
Yes in God's backyard
Let churches and faith institutions build homes on land they already own.
Open the playbook
Working on a policy we haven't covered? Suggest a playbook.
From playbook to law
When a legislature takes up one of these policies, our members vote on whether to endorse the bill, just like we do for candidates. Every playbook links to the legislation and the champions advancing it.
People Over Parking Act
Would end parking mandates near transit nationwide.
Yes In God's Backyard Act
Backs faith institutions building affordable homes on their own land.
Want help passing one of these?
Our chapters and national staff have brought these policies to city councils and statehouses before. Bring a playbook to your city, and bring us with you.