A Bipartisan Policy Center report highlights how local leadership, innovation, and implementation can make a measurable difference.
A report published in June 2026 by the
Bipartisan Policy Center, developed in partnership with the Capital One Insights Center and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, offers an interesting look at how four American cities are approaching some of their most pressing housing and community challenges.
Titled Cities Leading the Way: Case Studies in Housing Supply Solutions, the report examines initiatives in Columbia, South Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Manchester, New Hampshire; and San Diego, California. While each community faces different circumstances, their experiences share an important characteristic: local leaders identified specific obstacles and took deliberate steps to address them.
Four Cities. Four Different Approaches.
Columbia, South Carolina: Making Better Use of Existing Land
Facing an estimated shortage of 16,000 housing units, Columbia is working to activate approximately 2,000 vacant lots. Its approach includes mapping properties, identifying ownership, engaging private property owners, and working with developers and community organizations to create new housing opportunities. The city is also leveraging its own vacant properties to demonstrate what is possible.
Kansas City, Missouri: Coordinating Resources to Address Homelessness
Kansas City’s Zero KC initiative illustrates the importance of coordination and accountability. With hundreds of service programs operating across the region, the city recognized the need for better shared data, coordinated outreach, and more effective allocation of resources. Its strategy brings government, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector partners together around measurable housing outcomes rather than isolated program activities.
Manchester, New Hampshire: Modernizing Outdated Regulations
Manchester undertook a comprehensive overhaul of a zoning code that had not been substantially updated in more than two decades. The changes make it easier to develop duplexes, triplexes, accessory dwelling units, and other forms of housing. By addressing specific regulatory barriers, the city is creating more opportunities for development without relying exclusively on large-scale projects or additional public spending.
San Diego, California: Removing Administrative Barriers
San Diego focused on streamlining permitting and development approvals. Through zoning changes, more predictable approval processes, and investments in departmental staffing and project management, the city has worked to reduce delays and encourage housing production. Its experience demonstrates that regulatory reform must be accompanied by the administrative capacity to implement it.
To view the report, please click here.