Why is housing so expensive, and why does it take years to build new homes in communities that desperately need them?

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar speaks with Laura Foote, founder and executive director of YIMBY Action, about America’s housing shortage and the political choices that continue to limit housing production.

Laura explains how restrictive zoning, lengthy permitting processes, local opposition, fees, and political pressure make it harder and more expensive to build. She also shares how the YIMBY movement is organizing residents to support new housing, influence local officials, advocate for policy changes, and hold cities accountable.

The conversation explores how housing shortages affect teachers, nurses, small businesses, older adults, young families, and anyone who can’t afford to live near their job or community.

Laura also discusses the growing bipartisan support for housing reform, the expansion of YIMBY Action’s 87 local chapters, and the organization’s work to unblock tens of thousands of new homes across the country.

You’ll learn:
• Why America is millions of homes behind
• How zoning and permitting increase housing costs
• Why local opposition carries so much political power
• How housing shortages hurt businesses and essential workers
• Why housing reform has support across the political spectrum
• How ordinary residents can influence housing decisions
• What YIMBY Action means by “units unblocked”

Learn more about YIMBY Action and how you can get involved in supporting housing production in your community.

ChangeMakers with Katie Goar explores the people, policies, and ideas shaping the future of affordable housing.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Laura Foote’s personal housing story
02:09 Why high housing costs feel like personal failure
02:28 How the YIMBY movement began
04:34 Why new housing is so difficult to build
06:52 The community-wide effects of housing shortages
07:46 How residents can change the political math
08:33 Addressing common objections to new housing
10:49 How communities move from NIMBY to YIMBY
12:59 Why older adults and employers are joining the fight
14:00 Yes in God’s Backyard and other policy reforms
16:11 Why the housing shortage affects everyone
17:01 America’s self-imposed housing crisis
18:21 Bipartisan momentum for housing reform
21:20 Inside YIMBY Action’s 87 local chapters
22:31 When YIMBY Action takes cities to court
24:15 How YIMBY Action measures its impact
25:00 What “units unblocked” means
26:21 Why YIMBY Action focuses on new construction
27:00 Turning housing expertise into political action