NAA and NMHC Statement on the State of the Union Address

ARLINGTON, Va. | February 24, 2026 - Statement from National Apartment Association (NAA) President and CEO Bob Pinnegar and National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) President Sharon Wilson Génoon tonight's State of the Union address:

"Housing affordability is undoubtedly one of the most critical issues facing our country, fueled in large part by the urgent need to build more housing and bring costs down for families in need of an affordable place to live. NAA-NMHC research shows we need to build 4.3 million more apartments by 2035 to meet demand. To date, the Trump Administration has implemented a number of pro-housing, common-sense policies-from easing burdensome regulations to eliminating barriers that slow development-which are important steps in the right direction. Yet now more than ever is the time for decisive and transformational action.

"Our organizations urge the White House to support critical bipartisan housing packages, such as the ROAD to Housing Act and Housing for the 21st Century Act, as well as other proposals, including the Workforce Housing Tax Credit - a measure aimed at middle-income households facing severe cost burdens - that will make it easier to build housing of all types, easing affordability challenges facing so many families.

"Solving our affordability crisis will require everyone engaged in residential real estate - from for-sale to rental - and must incorporate arange of solutions that support new investment and reduce our supply shortage. This includes the important role that homes planned, financed, constructed and operated as build-to-rent communities play in our nation, offering many Americans the chance to choose from a wider variety of rental housing options that best meet their specific needs.

"Institutional investors support retired teachers, firefighters, union laborers and others who invest their retirement savings in multifamily housing through their participation in pension funds, life insurance companies, real estate investment trusts and other similar investment funds. Rental housing provides a strong investment opportunity with reasonable rates of returns for retirees and others and, at the same time, provides the resources needed to build communities. It is a 'win-win' for America.

"Looking ahead, NAA and NMHC will continue to work closely with the Administration and Members of Congress from both parties to achieve real, meaningful results to help Americans find the homes that are right for them."

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For more than 27 years, the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) have partnered on behalf of America's apartment industry. Drawing on the knowledge and policy expertise of staff in Washington, D.C., as well as the advocacy power of 139 NAA state and local affiliated associations, NAA and NMHC provide a single voice for developers, owners and operators of multifamily rental housing. One-third of all Americans rent their housing, and 40 million of them live in an apartment home.