The data in The Gap report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition highlights a housing shortage that many of us see firsthand in practice. While architects play an important role in shaping the built environment, it is also important to recognize that the affordability crisis is driven largely by structural and regulatory factors that extend well beyond design. I have personally proposed to many owners and developers realistic affordable projects, but without success for one reason or another. These have included ground-up developments, redefinition of density within zoning regulations, and even adaptive reuse projects.
From experience I have witnessed land costs, zoning restrictions, permitting timelines, parking requirements, financing structures, and construction labor costs often have a far greater impact on housing affordability than architectural design decisions alone. In many cases, these constraints determine whether housing can be built at all.
That said, we as architects can still contribute meaningfully by helping align design, policy, and development feasibility.
1. Advocate for regulatory reform
Many affordability barriers are regulatory. Zoning that limits density, excessive parking minimums, restrictive building typologies, and lengthy approval processes can significantly increase housing costs. Architects are well positioned to participate in public discussions and advocate for reforms that enable more housing supply.
2. Support "missing middle" housing
Housing types such as duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and courtyard apartments can provide meaningful density while remaining compatible with many neighborhoods. These forms are often restricted by zoning but can provide cost-effective housing if permitted.
3. Design for efficiency and constructability
Simple building forms, stacked plumbing systems, repetitive structural grids, and rationalized building envelopes can reduce construction costs and improve project feasibility.
4. Design for speed of construction
Strategies such as modular construction, panelized systems, and repetitive layouts can reduce construction time, which directly lowers financing and labor costs.
5. Reduce long-term operating costs
Energy-efficient envelopes, durable materials, and thoughtful building systems help reduce utility and maintenance expenses, which directly benefits residents over the life of the building. This is especially important to us New York architects who have just been introduced to the 2025 version of the Energy Conservation and Construction Code of New York State, everything has changed, and there are elements within that code that drive up construction costs as well.
6. Understand development economics
Affordable housing projects must still be financially feasible for developers and lenders. Architects who understand yield analysis, construction cost implications, and return on investment can help shape projects that both meet community needs and remain economically viable.
Ultimately, increasing the supply of affordable housing requires collaboration among architects, developers, policymakers, and communities. Architects bring value not only through design, but also through advocacy, technical expertise, and the ability to help align community goals with projects that can realistically be built. Reports such as The Gap are an important reminder that solving the housing shortage will require both design innovation and policy reform.
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Michael R. Bray, AIA (AIA Buffalo/WNY Treasurer 2020-2025)
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2026 11:23 AM
From: Ismar Enriquez, AIA
Subject: NLIHC Releases The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes
"Eighty-seven percent of the lowest-income renter households are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, and 74% face severe cost burdens, spending more than 50% of their income on housing costs."
NLIHC released today its annual report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes. The report finds that the lowest-income renters in the U.S. face a shortage of 7.2 million affordable and available rental homes. Just 35 affordable and available homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. This shortage of affordable and available housing leaves the lowest-income renters saddled with the highest rates of housing cost burdens among any income group. Eighty-seven percent of the lowest-income renter households are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, and 74% face severe cost burdens, spending more than 50% of their income on housing costs.
No state or major metropolitan area has an adequate supply of affordable and available homes for extremely low-income renters. Among states, the supply ranges from 16 affordable and available homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Nevada to 73 in South Dakota. In 13 of the country's 50 largest metropolitan areas, the shortage of rental homes affordable and available to the lowest-income renters exceeds 100,000 homes. While affordability challenges for renters much further up the income ladder do emerge in select high-cost housing areas, extremely low-income renters face the most acute affordability challenges-and they face them throughout the country.
How can Architects help and make homes more affordable or with a better return in value for policy makers, developers, and communities? Download the full Gap report and interactive maps are available at: https://nlihc.org/gap
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Ismar Enriquez AIA
Practice
Pasadena CA
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