Lt. Governor Calls for 1 Million New Homes to Address Housing Crisis

Denny Heck shares ideas with Clark County builders on how to boost home construction

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:38pm

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A cinematic painting depicting a solitary construction crane against a backdrop of residential homes, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the state's housing crisis and the need for more construction.As Washington grapples with a severe housing shortage, a lone construction crane stands as a symbol of the state's urgent need to boost home building.Vancouver Today

In a presentation to the Building Industry Association of Clark County, Washington Lt. Governor Denny Heck emphasized the urgent need to build 1 million additional homes in the state over the next 20 years to address a severe housing shortage. Heck outlined three key proposals to spur home construction, including creating a state Department of Housing, launching a starter home initiative, and building a broad coalition to promote more housing development.

Why it matters

Washington's housing crisis has led to declining homeownership rates, with the average first-time homebuyer's age rising from 28 to 40 over the past three decades. Heck believes the solution lies in significantly boosting housing supply, which would free up more starter homes and apartments, ultimately lowering costs for all types of housing.

The details

Heck noted that since the state's Growth Management Act was adopted in 1992, Washington's population has grown 60% while home construction has struggled to keep pace, with builders facing tighter urban growth boundaries and rising costs and fees. To address this, Heck proposed creating a state Department of Housing to make building more homes a dedicated priority, launching a starter home initiative to spur construction of entry-level housing, and building a broad coalition to advocate for more housing development.

  • In 1992, the average age of a first-time homebuyer was 28.
  • Today, the average age of a first-time homebuyer is 40.
  • Over the next 20 years, Heck says Washington needs 1 million additional homes.

The players

Denny Heck

The Lieutenant Governor of Washington who gave the presentation to the Building Industry Association of Clark County.

Building Industry Association of Clark County

The industry group that hosted Heck's presentation on the state's housing shortage and potential solutions.

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What they’re saying

“We have both a chronic and severe shortage of housing. Chronic and severe.”

— Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor of Washington

“We need about a million additional homes in the next 20 years and we're not … anywhere near that.”

— Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor of Washington

“This problem's only going to be solved when the private sector is sufficiently incentivized to invest. Period. Full stop.”

— Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor of Washington

What’s next

Heck is calling on state and local officials to make it easier for builders to construct more homes, including by creating a dedicated state Department of Housing and launching a starter home initiative campaign.

The takeaway

Washington's housing crisis has reached a critical point, with the state needing to build 1 million new homes over the next 20 years to keep up with population growth and restore affordability. Lt. Governor Heck's proposals aim to spur a major increase in housing construction by providing more support and incentives for private developers.