UPDATE: DHS Designates Residential Construction 'Essential'

Dean Mon, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Shrewsbury, N.J., issued the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is designating residential construction as an "Essential Infrastructure Business" during the COVID-19 emergency:

"The nation's home builders want to thank DHS for designating the construction of single-family and multifamily housing as an Essential Infrastructure Business. Americans depend on a functioning residential construction sector to provide safe, affordable housing for our citizens, and this need is especially acute during this pandemic. Moreover, a healthy housing market is critical to maintain a sound economy.  I commend DHS for heeding the urgent concerns of the housing community and taking this decisive action to assure the men and women of the industry will be able to stay on the job and serve the needs of the American people at this critical time."