In YIMBY Law’s work with YIMBY Action, both in California and across the country, we have learned one fundamental truth: passing laws is not housing unblocked. Getting housing abundance laws on the books is only the first step on the long road to building new homes. Reports from across the country on the impact of legislation tell a similar tale of two steps forward, one step back. YIMBY Law’s 2025 report on California’s implementation woes is clear: “The groundbreaking housing legislation passed in California since 2021 has had limited to no impact on the state’s housing supply to date.”
So how do we move from housing policy to housing progress? How do we turn potential housing into real homes? To meet the needs of the housing abundance movement, YIMBY Law has developed a variety of tactics to meet implementation needs across the United States. In four states, we have launched statewide coalitions we call Housing Accountability Taskforces (HATs), with the goal of connecting policy experts with reports on what is happening on the ground. We collaborate directly with pro-housing local officials, send enforcement letters to non-compliant localities, file direct legal action, and more. The tactics we have developed are outlined in this guide, and we hope they will be of great value to other organizations looking to replicate or collaborate on this work.