State Housing Production Community of Practice

States are passing bold housing legislation, but turning those laws into homes remains a major challenge. Permitting systems are slow and inconsistent. Zoning reform is politically and operationally complex. Local governments with limited planning capacity often need support to implement new requirements. And without good data, it is hard to know what is working.

How can state leaders support cities and towns in producing more housing? What can state leaders learn from each other about how to do this?

The State Housing Production Community of Practice is a group that meets virtually to share emerging practices and solutions for advancing housing reform implementation. It is free and open exclusively to state-level government staff.

Join the Community of Practice

Who: The Community of Practice is open to state government staff from all U.S. states, including those working in housing, commerce, or economic development departments, affordable housing offices, planning and zoning departments, and land authorities.

When: The Community of Practice meets quarterly. Our first meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT. It will feature a fireside chat with Lars Benson, Assistant Director of Homelessness & Housing at the GPL, and state leaders on the main barriers and opportunities for building more housing.

What: The Community of Practice offers a space for members to learn from peers and experts, explore practical tools, and exchange relevant knowledge and experiences. Members can use the Community of Practice directory to contact peers and access meeting recordings, presentation slides, tools, and other resources through a member-only repository.

If you have questions about the Community of Practice, please reach out to us at Housing_GPL@hks.harvard.edu.

Read more about the GPL’s work to unlock housing production here.