A Nation’s Challenge, A Federal Response: Advancing Housing Through Policy

What can Washington, D.C. do to address the housing crisis and expand pathways to homeownership? Join the Center for California Real Estate (CCRE) for a virtual panel discussion titled, “A Nation’s Challenge, A Federal Response: Advancing Housing Through Policy,” on Tuesday, August 12 from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. Hear from leading voices in federal housing policy, as they explore solutions that reach beyond the local and state level.

From legislative reform and regulatory innovation to financing tools and public-private partnerships, panelists share insights on how federal action can help unlock affordability, increase housing supply, and strengthen communities. Whether through tax policy, mortgage regulation, or agency initiatives, the federal government plays a critical role in shaping housing outcomes. This conversation unpacks what meaningful progress could look like. MODERATOR

• Rebecca Picciotto

  Reporter

  The Wall Street Journal

  
  

  Picciotto writes about the residential rental market and housing policy on The Wall Street Journal's Real Estate team based in New York. She interned on WSJ's Real Estate desk during the summer of 2022. Picciotto also worked as a politics reporter at CNBC, where she covered economic policy and breaking news.

PANELISTS

• David Garcia

  Policy Director

  Up for Growth

  
  

  Garcia is responsible for building, stewarding, and advocating for Up for Growth's portfolio of pro-housing policies. Up for Growth is a national, member-driven organization dedicated to addressing the housing shortage and affordability crisis through research, advocacy, and policy development. Before joining Up for Growth, Garcia served as the Policy Director at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley. During his tenure at the Terner Center, David led significant research and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing housing supply and implementing land use reforms. His active engagement with lawmakers across various levels of government played a pivotal role in advancing several key housing policies in California and beyond. Garcia's insightful contributions to housing policy have garnered attention from major news outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and NPR. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies.

• Lesli Gooch

  CEO

  Manufactured Housing Institute

  
  

  Dr. Gooch’s work centers on expanding access to affordable homeownership by advocating for policies that support manufactured housing as a viable solution to the nation’s housing affordability challenges. Under her leadership, the Manufactured Housing Institute—a national trade association representing nearly 90% of manufactured homes produced in the United States—has made significant strides in advancing legislative priorities, including efforts to update federal housing regulations and construction codes to better reflect modern industry innovations. Dr. Gooch also helped establish a new deputy assistant secretary position within HUD dedicated to manufactured housing, elevating the sector’s profile alongside single- and multifamily housing. She advocated for expanding the HUD code to include duplexes, broadening affordable housing options. Her advocacy extends to the state level, where she has provided expertise on housing legislation in over a dozen states.

  
  

• Kim Johnson

  Senior Director of Policy

  National Low Income Housing Coalition

  
  

  Johnson is responsible for identifying and analyzing federal policy and regulatory activities related to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) priorities, advocating around those policies and activities on Capitol Hill, and working with NLIHC's field team to engage NLIHC's members and network in field advocacy. She focuses especially on the housing protections in the “Violence Against Women Act,” criminal justice reform, and evictions. Kim is a graduate of George Washington University, where she earned a master’s degree in public policy. During her graduate program, she interned with Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future and with the Senate Minority Health Committee.