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CONCORD, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan housing package that supporters say could ease New Hampshire’s housing crunch by giving communities more flexibility to build homes and cut through federal red tape.
Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., said she helped pass the Housing for the 21st Century Act as housing costs continue to rise and available units remain scarce across the state and the country. The legislation is designed to increase overall housing supply while modernizing federal housing policy and shifting more control to towns and cities.
Goodlander said the package is aimed at helping families, seniors, veterans, and workers who are increasingly being priced out of the housing market, despite working full-time or living on fixed incomes.
Communities across New Hampshire, particularly in rural areas, often face lengthy approval processes and overlapping federal requirements that can slow or derail housing projects. Supporters of the bill say the new package is intended to ease those barriers by streamlining environmental reviews, improving coordination between federal agencies, and updating programs that support affordable housing development.
The legislation brings together several measures focused on expanding a range of housing options, including affordable units, so-called “missing-middle” housing such as duplexes and small multi-unit buildings, as well as modular and manufactured homes. Advocates say those types of housing can be built more quickly and at lower cost, making them a better fit for many local communities.
One portion of the package would help municipalities develop pre-approved housing designs to speed up permitting, while another would provide guidance to states and towns looking to reform zoning and land-use rules that limit new construction. Other provisions update federal funding programs and aim to reduce duplicative reviews, particularly for rural housing projects.
Housing advocates in New Hampshire welcomed the House’s action, calling it a meaningful step toward making safe, affordable housing more accessible for Granite Staters. They said increasing supply, especially in underserved areas, is critical to stabilizing costs and keeping communities viable.
The Housing for the 21st Century Act now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.