When we talk about America’s housing crisis, we often hear about the “missing middle” — the homes that fall between single-family houses and large multifamily developments. Townhomes, duplexes, fourplexes and other forms of attainable housing that once existed in communities across the country.
But there is another missing middle we need to talk about: the people and companies positioned to build it.
Across the country, there are contractors, tradespeople, small business owners and emerging developers who have the ambition to grow, create jobs and build housing in their communities. What they often lack isn’t talent or determination. It is access — access to knowledge, relationships, capital, mentorship and the networks that can turn experience into opportunity.
If we are serious about addressing the housing shortage, we cannot simply focus on building more homes. We also have to build more builders.
The National Hispanic Construction Alliance is working to address that challenge through initiatives designed to help emerging construction entrepreneurs move from working in the industry to growing within it.
Our Build the Builder program is one example.
Last week in Charlotte, NHCA brought together a cohort of emerging builders to gain knowledge, develop relationships and better understand the resources available to help them take the next step. The cohort included participants from across North Carolina, as well as builders who traveled from Arizona and Kentucky.
That diversity matters. The challenges facing emerging builders may differ from market to market, but the need for access, education, relationships and opportunity is remarkably consistent.
And NHCA isn’t doing this work alone. Organizations including ProWood, Fifth Third Bank, Merchants Mortgage and Lowe’s have supported our efforts, recognizing that building a stronger construction ecosystem requires collaboration. Builders need more than training. They need access to financing, products, expertise, networks and opportunities.
The goal isn’t simply to teach someone how to build a house. It is to help build the capacity, confidence and connections necessary to build a company.
A successful contractor can create jobs. A growing construction company can train workers. An emerging developer can bring new housing to a neighborhood. And a business owner who learns how to navigate the development process can eventually become a mentor and resource for the next generation.
That is how an ecosystem grows.
And perhaps, over time, there is an even bigger opportunity.
What if NHCA could eventually create a development entity of its own, one that provides emerging builders with real-world development experience while helping create housing and economic opportunity in the communities we serve?
That is a long-term vision, not a promise for tomorrow. But it is a vision worth pursuing.
America doesn’t have a shortage of people who want to build. We have a shortage of pathways that allow more of those people to become successful builders, contractors and developers.
If we want to solve the housing crisis, we need to think beyond units and permits. We need to invest in the people who will create the companies and communities of tomorrow.
The missing middle isn’t just housing. It’s builders. And if we want to build more homes, we have to build the builders who will build them.
Sergio Barajas is the executive director of the National Hispanic Construction Alliance, where he leads the organization’s work to expand capacity building, access to capital, and business opportunities for Hispanic contractors and construction professionals. Over a 30-year career spanning housing development, construction, and financing, he has held roles with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, Freddie Mac, the National Community Stabilization Trust, and the Los Angeles Housing Department. Based in San Diego, California, Sergio writes about workforce development, advocacy, and the role of the Hispanic construction workforce in building a stronger and more equitable industry.
Keep up with Sergio Barajas HERE!
