Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC) is applauding final congressional passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, one of the most significant federal housing policy actions in decades. WALC supported the legislation as part of a national coalition working to increase housing supply, improve affordability, and expand housing options nationwide. Read the full press release below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24th 2026
WALC Applauds Passage of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, Most Significant Housing Policy at the Federal Level in decades
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC) is applauding final congressional passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan federal housing package aimed at increasing housing supply, improving affordability, and expanding housing options in communities across the country.
WALC supported the legislation as part of a national coalition of more than 200 housing advocates, planning organizations, homebuilders, and community development groups working to address housing shortages across the country. With final approval now secured in both chambers of Congress, the bill marks a significant federal step toward addressing housing affordability by supporting the construction of more homes and reducing barriers that make it harder for communities to meet growing housing needs.
For Utah, the bill comes at a time when communities across the Wasatch Region continue to face rising housing costs and increasing demand for a limited number of housing options. WALC believes the legislation reflects an important reality: housing affordability and housing supply are deeply connected, and creating more attainable housing will require action at every level of government.
“Utah families do not need more reminders that housing is increasingly out of reach — they need more homes they can actually afford,” said Turner C. Bitton, Founding Executive Director of WALC. “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is an important acknowledgment that to improve affordability, policymakers have to make it easier to build the types of homes that our neighbors want and can afford. That means supporting a wider range of housing choices, reducing barriers to housing production, and making sure communities have the tools they need to grow in thoughtful, sustainable ways.”
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes a range of pro-housing provisions intended to support housing production, improve affordability, modernize housing programs, and expand access to housing opportunities nationwide. While many housing decisions are made at the local and state level, WALC sees federal housing policy as an important part of the broader effort to make housing more attainable and to support communities working to address supply shortages.
Across Utah, local leaders and residents are already grappling with how to create more housing choices near jobs, schools, services, and transportation. From starter homes and townhomes to accessory dwelling units and apartments, communities need practical tools that make it easier to add homes in places where people want and need to live. WALC believes the ROAD to Housing Act is a meaningful step in that direction and an encouraging sign that leaders across the political spectrum recognize the need for more housing solutions.
WALC supported the legislation as part of a national coalition that included housing advocates, planning organizations, homebuilders, and community development groups from across the country. The coalition described the legislation as a historic step toward increasing housing supply, improving affordability, and broadening housing choice nationwide.
WALC will continue working with local leaders, state policymakers, and community partners throughout Utah to advance practical housing solutions that expand housing choice, support affordability, and help more people find a home in the communities where they want to live.
Passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act demonstrates growing bipartisan recognition that housing affordability requires increasing housing supply. WALC looks forward to working with federal, state, and local leaders to advance policies that allow more homes to be built in the places where people want to live, helping ensure that Utah remains a place where individuals and families of all income levels can thrive.
About Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC)
Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities champions community development in the Wasatch Region through programs and public policies focused on housing, land use, local governance, and transportation.
