When the initially reluctant City Council of Bend, Oregon finally agreed to set the ball rolling to increase its Urban Growth Boundary, the local REALTOR® association provided positive reinforcement with a supportive Call For Action. Building rapport and relationships, says the Government Affairs Director, is always a good strategy – that extends to leadership within a regional housing coalition that is raising public awareness of a growing housing crisis.

An ambitious effort to address housing supply and housing opportunity issues was given wings by two Issues Mobilization Grants to the Maryland REALTORS®, who used the funds for a new website, database, and publicity campaign to help get important new laws on the books. With a strong new foundation in place, the advocacy continues…

In the Charlottesville, Virginia and Springfield, Illinois regions, REALTOR® efforts to increase housing and homeownership continued unabated through the pandemic, with regional summits and localized education. Housing Opportunity Grants from the REALTOR® Party supported the work of these respective associations as they continued to lead their communities in housing efforts.