Housing shortages, rising prices and mounting opposition to new development are dominating conversations in communities across the country — but the solution may be far more local than most residents realize.
During a recent episode of The Debrief: In Focus, Strong Towns Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt talked about why communities struggling with affordability often stand in the way of the very growth they need — and what practical steps can change that trajectory.
Erfurt described Strong Towns as a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on reshaping development patterns and improving fiscal sustainability in cities and towns. The organization emerged during the 2008 financial crisis and has grown into a nationwide movement influencing planners, residents and elected officials alike.
Housing shortage rooted in structure, not just supply
According to Erfurt, the housing crisis isn’t simply about building more homes — it’s about how the housing market is structured.
He said the United States treats housing simultaneously as shelter and as a financial investment, which creates tension when communities discuss affordability.
He argued the country has overproduced one specific type of housing — large suburban homes — while failing to produce smaller and incremental housing options. Market demand, he said, shows 30–40% of buyers want smaller infill housing, yet less than 1% of new construction meets that demand.
The result is persistent shortages and escalating prices.
Local governments hold more power than they think
While many officials blame interest rates or national policy, Erfurt said local governments have significant control over housing outcomes.
He pointed to more than 80 cities across North America that have improved housing availability through relatively small policy changes such as basic zoning reforms and streamlining approvals.
One of the biggest barriers, he said, is administrative process — not regulations themselves.
Cities can unlock development simply by shifting staff roles from “gatekeeping to guidance,” clearly explaining approval paths and responding quickly to applicants.
In some municipalities, pre-approved building plans allow permits in as little as 24 hours, compared to months or years in traditional review systems.
The delays, Erfurt argued, often drain political energy that should be spent on real concerns such as design, environmental impact and neighborhood fit.
Opposition often misses bigger long-term costs
Community pushback frequently centers on density, building type or neighborhood character. But Erfurt said those debates overlook infrastructure liabilities created by large suburban developments.
Cities often review a four-unit infill project with the same scrutiny as a 400-acre subdivision, even though the latter adds miles of roads, pipes and long-term maintenance costs.
Those fiscal impacts, he said, are increasingly shaping smarter development conversations.
“The suburban development pattern allows us to yield thousands of units at scale,” Erfurt said, but it also creates long-term liabilities cities struggle to afford.
Incremental development gaining traction
A growing movement of “incremental developers” — residents converting basements, garages or small properties into housing — is emerging as a key solution.
Organizations training these small-scale builders have reached more than 10,000 participants in recent years, reflecting increasing local interest in community-scale growth.
Erfurt said communities embracing these smaller projects see stabilization rather than disruption because they fit existing neighborhoods and keep investment local.
Future depends on adapting or stagnating
Erfurt warned the current model is financially unsustainable if communities continue restricting housing types. Stabilizing both affordability and property values will require allowing a wider range of homes — duplexes, smaller houses and infill development — particularly in established neighborhoods.
Without those changes, he said, housing shortages and price pressures will persist.
The takeaway, he emphasized, is straightforward: the housing crisis will not be solved primarily by Washington or state capitals.
It will be decided block by block at city halls willing to permit change — or communities determined to resist it.
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