Housing in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4241: Boosting Housing Supply through Small Businesses Act of 2026

This bill directs the Small Business Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to work together to help small businesses in the housing industry, such as homebuilders, contractors, and property managers. The agencies must create a joint plan within 180 days to identify gaps in financial and technical assistance and propose ways to expand access to loans and support services for these businesses. The plan must also include strategies for better information sharing, joint training programs, and support for housing startups and innovative products. Additionally, the agencies are required to engage with state and local governments, community organizations, and other resource partners to develop these initiatives. The legislation aims to address housing shortages by strengthening the capacity of small businesses that contribute to housing supply and affordability.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Housing Finance Tags Small Business

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4261: Preventing Youth Homelessness Demonstration Act of 2026

This bill establishes two new grant programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to help prevent homelessness among youth aged 12 to 26 and children of those youth. The first program provides substantial funding for communities to implement prevention strategies, while the second offers smaller planning grants to help organizations assess local needs and build capacity before applying for larger grants. Eligible recipients include state and local governments, educational agencies, and organizations serving homeless populations, with special funding set aside for rural areas and Native communities. The bill requires grantees to form councils that include youth with lived experience of homelessness to guide program activities and mandates regular reporting on how funds are used and their effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Homelessness

in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2026

HR 7504: Housing for America’s Middle Class Act of 2026

This bill directs the Comptroller General to conduct a comprehensive study on housing affordability challenges facing middle-income American families. The report will identify specific geographic areas where housing is most unaffordable for these households and examine existing federal programs that currently exclude middle-income families from benefits available to lower-income groups. Additionally, the study will analyze how to define workforce housing based on income parameters and provide recommendations for expanding federal housing assistance to include middle-income households. The legislation focuses on gathering data and making policy recommendations rather than implementing immediate changes to housing programs.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Housing Finance

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 4182: FARM Home Loans Act of 2026

The FARM Home Loans Act of 2026 modifies the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to expand financing options for rural homeowners. It allows Farm Credit institutions to provide loans for accessory dwelling units in addition to traditional home improvements. The bill also increases the maximum loan amount for these rural housing projects from $2,500 to $10,000. These changes directly affect rural property owners seeking financing for secondary living spaces on their land. The legislation aims to increase access to home improvement funding in rural markets through existing Farm Credit programs.

Topics ✓ Housing

Tags Rural Communities

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SJRES 165: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Bulletin 2015-02 re: Section 8 housing choice voucher homeownership program".

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove a rule from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection that would have withdrawn a 2015 regulation regarding the Section 8 housing choice voucher homeownership program. If passed, the resolution would prevent the Bureau from removing the existing guidance that allows low-income families to use housing vouchers to purchase homes. The measure directly affects the Bureau's regulatory authority and the housing assistance program it oversees. It does not change the underlying law but instead blocks a specific administrative action that would have altered how the program operates.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Homeownership

in committee · United States · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 8171: FAST Housing Act

This bill establishes a demonstration program that provides up to 15 competitive grants to local governments and public housing agencies to help develop workforce and affordable housing in areas where the workforce is expanding. To receive funding, recipients must submit applications that outline existing and proposed zoning reforms, such as upzoning, expedited permitting, and removal of parking minimums, along with implementation timelines. The grants can be used for converting commercial spaces to housing, developing new units, providing technical assistance, and acquiring properties, with at least 30 percent of created units required to be affordable housing. The program prioritizes jurisdictions that have already reduced regulatory barriers and aims to include urban, suburban, and rural areas, while requiring a study to evaluate the program's effectiveness on housing timelines and production.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Zoning

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4240: American Homes First Act

The American Homes First Act redirects $1 billion in previously appropriated funds from the State Department to the Department of Health and Human Services. These funds will be used to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps low-income households pay for heating and cooling costs. The bill prevents the use of these funds for the Board of Peace, an international organization designated by a previous executive order. This change directly affects low-income families who rely on energy assistance and alters how specific federal budget allocations are distributed.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4218: VA Appraisal Modernization Act

The VA Appraisal Modernization Act establishes a new system for setting and adjusting appraisal fees for Department of Veterans Affairs home loans. It creates two special categories of counties - high-demand and remote - to address appraiser shortages and long wait times. High-demand counties, where appraisal delays exceed standards or appraiser availability is low, will see fees increase annually starting in 2027, with higher rates for counties facing persistent shortages. Remote counties, defined by low appraiser density or long travel distances, will receive mileage reimbursements for appraisers. The bill also requires the VA to publish fee schedules, notify appraisers of changes, and submit reports on the program's financial impact and effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Zoning

in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2026

HR 8056: Military Financial Literacy Act of 2026

The Military Financial Literacy Act of 2026 expands personalized financial and housing counseling services for members of the Armed Forces. It requires the Department of Defense to establish a one-on-one counseling program within one year that covers credit management, budgeting, anti-predatory lending, rental planning, VA home loans, and legal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The program must partner with HUD-approved, tax-exempt Veteran Service Organizations that have expertise in financial literacy and housing stability. The Secretary of Defense must submit a report to Congress within two years detailing the number of service members who received counseling, completion rates, and indicators of financial stress or housing instability among participants.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mortgages Military Families Veteran Housing

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4249: FARM Stability Act

The FARM Stability Act proposes changes to wage requirements for H-2A temporary agricultural workers in the United States. It would require the Secretary of Labor to establish a two-tiered wage system based on skill levels, with higher pay for workers who have formal training or significant experience compared to entry-level workers. The bill also mandates that wages account for housing costs by calculating an hourly adjustment factor based on average fair market rent for four-bedroom units, limited to 30 percent of the base wage rate. These provisions would directly affect employers hiring H-2A workers and the workers themselves by modifying how minimum wages are determined and adjusted annually.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Renters Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags Agriculture

All housing bills