From Consensus to Wins: What I Learned at YIMBYtown
Earlier this month, I traveled to New Haven, Connecticut for YIMBYTown, a three-day gathering of housing leaders, advocates, and policymakers from across the country. With everyone in the room a self-described YIMBY, it was energizing to be in rooms where the central question was always how to build more housing, rather than whether we should. In each talk or discussion I attended, the topic of conversation was focused on presenting strategies and solutions to build more housing.
And while it was nice to see fellow advocates from California well represented, what I found uniquely valuable was hearing from folks from around the country share innovative solutions they’ve piloted to help address their state’s housing challenges.
Here are three conversations that stood out to me:
Bipartisan Breakthroughs in Texas. Leaders from Texas described how they worked across party lines to pass a package of pro-housing reforms. By framing housing as a shared challenge — not a partisan wedge — they demonstrated that meaningful policy is possible even in polarized environments.
Business Leaders in Connecticut. Local employers explained how high housing costs make it harder to hire and retain workers. Their engagement in housing advocacy shows how the economic case for affordability can expand the coalition beyond traditional housing advocates.
Creative but Practical Financing in Maryland. In Montgomery County, officials have shown how important it is to be both creative and straightforward. By using tools like their revolving Housing Production Fund, the county has unlocked more housing development without overly complex structures. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best solutions are the most practical — and that we need to use the tools we already have while staying open to innovation.
Here in California, those lessons are directly relevant. Later this month at Housing Heroes, HAC will host a policy roundtable discussion with elected officials, housing staffers, builders, architects, attorneys, and advocates. The goal is to bring these kinds of examples into our own context and ask: How can we build consensus and then move it through the gauntlet of politics, funding, and process into real results?
Consensus matters. But consensus without follow-through is just talk. Our coalition is committed to the harder work of turning agreement into action — and action into more homes for Californians.
I look forward to sharing more from Housing Heroes in the weeks ahead.
