GUEST COLUMN.

When I was a student at Harlan Elementary in Wilmington, a social studies teacher of mine taught us that our country was unique. In the United States, each generation is wealthier and more equitable than the one before. It’s a lesson that stuck with me. Unfortunately, that is no longer true. When I look at what rents and mortgages cost Delawareans today, I see an unacceptable number of people who simply can’t afford a home.

Homeownership has been the cornerstone of building wealth in America for generations—a pathway to stability, equity, and upward mobility. But that path is slipping out of reach. Housing costs are rising faster than wages in cities and towns nationwide, draining income from families forced to spend more on housing and save less for the future. Partially as a result, up-and-coming generations are on track to have less wealth, a lower quality of life, and even shorter life expectancies than their parents—a reversal of the American Dream. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Solving the housing crisis is possible if we have the political courage to act. We must treat housing as the essential infrastructure it is and prioritize it in public policy. Only then can we begin to reverse the current trajectory and give the next generation a fair shot at the security and opportunity that the generation before had.

In my first week as the 76th Governor of Delaware, we set out to streamline and simplify Delaware’s often cumbersome housing permitting process through executive order. We're cutting unnecessary red tape without compromising quality or community standards by establishing a statewide "one-stop shop" for affordable housing permits. Delays and inefficiencies increase costs for developers, renters, and homebuyers. Faster approvals translate directly into lower prices and quicker availability. We're not lowering standards; we're raising expectations of efficiency and fairness, creating a pathway for rapid yet responsible housing growth.

Of course, tackling the housing problem means more than affordable housing; it means raising the floor by compassionately addressing homelessness. A holistic approach is needed. This is why we’ve also launched the Delaware Interagency Collaborative to End Homelessness, a comprehensive, cross-sector effort to halve homelessness and eliminate youth homelessness within five years. Delawareans deserve more than shelter; they deserve stable, permanent homes. With coordinated resources, innovative solutions, and a relentless commitment, we're creating lasting paths to stability for our most vulnerable residents.

Our efforts also recognize the critical importance of investing directly in Delaware’s communities. We're revitalizing neighborhoods across Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, and beyond, through increased funding for Downtown Development Districts. These investments are not just about bricks and mortar—they're about creating vibrant neighborhoods where people want to live, businesses want to operate, and communities can thrive. Over the last ten years, grants of nearly $40 million leveraged around $575 million in private investment, demonstrating that strategic public investment spurs transformative growth.

Affordable housing solutions must also emerge organically within existing neighborhoods. That's why we strongly advocate for zoning reforms that encourage Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and diverse housing types, such as townhomes and duplexes. ADUs—small residences often added to existing parcels —offer affordable options for seniors, young people, and essential workers.

As New Castle County Executive, I championed ordinances to enable "pocket neighborhoods" and legalize more ADUs, proving that small-scale changes can make a meaningful difference. Now, we seek to build on these common-sense reforms statewide. While ADUs are an important starting point, we recognize that a full menu of zoning solutions must be considered to increase Delaware’s housing stock and lower housing costs.

Central to our housing vision is embracing an urgent mindset. Too often, housing policy discussions fall prey to "Not in My Backyard" (NIMBY) thinking, where fear of change overrides community needs. It's time we say clearly: housing scarcity helps no one. By shifting from a mindset of restriction to one of possibilities, we can build sufficient housing to meet demand, lower costs, and create inclusive communities. We must adopt a "Yes in My Backyard" approach, backed by innovative growth policies and robust community engagement, to ensure that Delawareans can continue to afford to call this state home.

Access to safe and affordable shelter is part of the foundation for all people to thrive, with someone’s housing situation directly affecting everything from health and education to economic opportunity and social equity.

In so many ways, Delaware’s future depends on our ability to ensure every resident can afford a safe, stable home. Our administration will continue championing policies and investments that move us toward an even more innovative affordable housing future—a future we can hand off to the next generation of Delawareans, ensuring opportunity, community, and affordability are not just aspirations, but everyday realities.

Note: Special thanks to The NewDEAL, a selective center-left network of state and local elected leaders from across the nation for helping to secure this guest column. Governor Meyer is a leader there.

The contents of this Guest Column are those of the author, and not necessarily Barrett and Greene, Inc. 

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