Dallas Officials Advocate for Affordable Housing Solutions
Dallas city leaders are taking action to address rising housing costs and affordability issues, engaging with state and federal lawmakers to push for policies that would streamline housing development and reduce regulatory obstacles.
Dallas Mayor Urges Federal Action to Cut Red Tape
This week, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson testified before a U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, urging lawmakers to prioritize cutting red tape to accelerate the construction of affordable housing. During his testimony, he acknowledged Dallas’ success in reducing veteran homelessness but cautioned against equating homelessness with housing affordability.
“While we have made significant progress in reducing veteran homelessness, we cannot mistake that issue for the broader challenge of making housing more affordable,” Johnson said. “I truly believe the only long-term solution is to have a ‘build, baby, build’ attitude towards housing.”
Johnson also expressed concern over rising mortgage rates and rent prices, which continue to burden residents. He urged federal lawmakers to streamline regulations and remove obstacles that slow down new development, arguing that private sector involvement is key to solving the housing shortage.
Texas Lawmakers Debate Statewide Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
At the state level, Dallas Council Member Jaime Resendez spoke out against Senate Bill 673, which would allow granny flats or ADUs in residential areas statewide without requiring city-level approval. While ADUs have been touted as a solution to the housing crisis, concerns remain about local control over zoning decisions.
“Local governments should be allowed to decide where ADUs make sense on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis,” Resendez argued.
ADUs—small secondary homes built on the same property as a primary residence—are seen as a way to increase affordable housing options, but city officials worry about the lack of local oversight. The bill did not move forward after the hearing, leaving its fate uncertain.
Push for Fewer Federal Housing Regulations Continues
While some Texas lawmakers seek a state-level solution, Congress is working on a broader approach to the country’s affordable housing challenges. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, chairing a national housing committee, emphasized the need to cut red tape and streamline development regulations to reduce housing costs.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who testified in D.C., expressed skepticism about government intervention in housing, asserting that private sector involvement is key to sustainable solutions.
“The only way to solve the housing crisis in the long term is to have a ‘build, baby, build’ attitude towards housing,” Johnson said.
He also pushed back against conflating affordable housing with homelessness, stating that homelessness stems from mental health and addiction challenges that require social services rather than just additional housing stock.
What’s Next?
The outcome of both the federal and state-level housing policies remains to be seen. Dallas officials continue to advocate for local control over zoning decisions, while the federal government is considering measures to streamline housing development. Meanwhile, Americans face rising mortgage rates, higher rents, and economic uncertainty, as discussions around regulatory changes and trade tariffs unfold in Washington, D.C.
Credits: Dallas Observer
