Statewide, Washington needs to build 55,000 new homes per year to house new residents. The state is currently producing just 75% of that.

That makes housing expensive... and it’s not just Washington state facing a long-term housing shortage. 

For years, Americans have been begging politicians to do something about the high cost of housing buying an adequate place to live. In late June, something happened that almost never happens in Washington, D.C.—Republicans and Democrats came together to pass a major bill aimed at unlocking the housing supply. 

The bill is called the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, and it just became law over the weekend.  

Some lawmakers are calling this bill the most consequential housing reform in decades. On today's episode, we look at what it can really deliver.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to https://donate.kuow.org/donate/booming.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

Statewide, Washington needs to build 55,000 new homes per year to house new residents. The state is currently producing just 75% of that.
That makes housing expensive... and it&rsquo;s not just Washington state facing a long-term housing shortage.&nbsp;
For years, Americans have been begging politicians to do something about the high cost of housing buying an adequate place to live. In late June, something happened that almost never happens in Washington, D.C.&mdash;Republicans and Democrats came together to pass a major bill aimed at unlocking the housing supply.&nbsp;
The bill is called the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, and it just became law over the weekend.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Some lawmakers are calling this bill the most consequential housing reform in decades. On today's episode, we look at what it can really deliver.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/booming">https://donate.kuow.org/donate/booming.</a> Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It’s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It&rsquo;s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In&nbsp;Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming

Some lawmakers are calling the bill the most consequential housing reform in decades. What it can really deliver?