Analysis: ROAD to Housing Act could take years to implement

A study from the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders and the Center for Affordable Housing Lending found that at its current pace, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will likely take several years to implement the nine new rules added in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

As Ryan Kushner explains in Smart Cities Dive, "Within the first year of the law’s enactment, Congress directed agencies to achieve 58 of the 124 actions, or 47%, according to the analysis." HUD completed four major rules per year during the prior administration; it now has a backlog of 54. 

Meanwhile, the agency significantly reduced its staff in the last year, making it unlikely that it will be able to expedite the process. "In the meantime, local governments can begin assessing what regulatory changes — such as updating zoning, building codes and permitting policies — they will need to enact to take advantage of federal funding once it becomes attainable, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts."