Housing Affordability Institute released a new white paper today highlighting how modest densification can increase housing access. By increasing the number of homes available and by opening housing access to communities of color, modest densification increases housing access in several ways.

The whitepaper is part of Housing Affordability Institute’s new Modest Densification series highlighting how zoning modernization through modest densification can increase housing inventory, affordability, and access.

“As the demographics of our country change, so must our zoning policies,” said Nick Erickson, executive director of Housing Affordability Institute. “Households do not look like they did in the 1980s, yet too many communities rely on zoning of the 1980s and 1990s.”

Highlights:

• Research on housing density in the Twin Cities area has shown that increasing density beyond large-lot single-family zoning enables more diversity.
• Demographics in the United States are changing and no longer reflect the zoning of the 1980s and 1990s used today.
• More housing options by-right can eliminate exclusionary zoning tactics.

Housing Affordability Institute’s Modest Densification series is available in our Policy Center.