Originally published on July 30, 2025, by Deborah L Myerson for UrbanLand Magazine. 

What if the key to solving the housing crisis isn’t just more money? In Rhode Island, dozens of cities and towns are rewriting zoning codes, updating permitting rules, and planning for new development, not with sprawling staff or deep budgets, but with targeted technical assistance from the state to clear the path for more local housing.

It is just one of dozens of noteworthy programs and policies from across the country spotlighted in the latest report from ULI’s Terwilliger Center for Housing—Building the Future 2025: Transformative Trends in State, Local, and Federal Housing Policy. Even as national policy support becomes less predictable, many states and localities are hard at work developing pragmatic, scalable housing solutions.

Building upon the foundation laid by the 2024 edition, this updated report delves into the latest innovative strategies being employed by various states and municipalities to address the nation’s housing challenges. From Washington state’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure program to expanded incentives for individual affordable homes in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the report showcases how common-sense initiatives—reforming tax policy, connecting development to transit, and leveraging public lands—can help meet the urgent demand for housing.

The report is structured around four key themes: reform, connect, leverage, and progress. Each highlights actionable policies and programs that have successfully boosted sustainable, affordable housing in their local communities.