US Congress Enacts 21st Century Road to Housing Act to Boost Affordable Housing

Congress passed the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act, the largest federal housing legislation in decades. The bill, signed into law without a presidential signature, includes 50 measures aimed at easing the affordable‑housing shortage by simplifying regulations, expanding tax credits, loosening local zoning rules, and providing incentives for areas that increase housing production.

Local officials in Santa Cruz County say the law will not deliver immediate housing units. They expect any impact on affordable‑housing supply to be gradual over the next decade, with modest benefits from reforms such as single‑stair apartments and expanded manufactured‑home options. The county’s housing authority cautions that new federal funding will not arrive quickly, but the legislation could help existing resources stretch farther by reducing costs and financing barriers.