Housing (Homelessness)

The No Federal Taxpayer-Funded Housing for Illegal Aliens Act of 2026 prohibits the use of federal funds to provide housing assistance to individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States. The bill defines covered housing assistance broadly to include rental help, vouchers, mortgage support, utility bills, hotel stays, and various stabilization services aimed at securing or maintaining a home. Federal agency heads must enforce this ban by requiring fund recipients to certify compliance, monitoring their activities, and imposing civil penalties or periods of ineligibility for any violations. The prohibition does not apply to funds used specifically for enforcing immigration or criminal laws.

This bill expands federal civil commitment laws to allow the long-term detention of individuals deemed a danger to public safety, specifically targeting those with serious mental illnesses who engage in certain behaviors. It directly affects homeless individuals with mental health conditions by requiring officials to evaluate them for involuntary commitment if they commit crimes like burglary, drug distribution in public, or prolonged outdoor living. The legislation defines "urban camping" and "urban squatting" as specific offenses that, when combined with a serious mental illness, can lead to mandatory certification for continued confinement. By amending existing statutes, the act aims to address public safety concerns related to mental illness and homelessness through a legal framework that prioritizes institutionalization over other forms of care or release.

This bill redirects federal funding toward mandatory treatment facilities for unhoused individuals with serious mental illness or addiction, while tying grant money to local enforcement of public drug use bans, camping restrictions, and sex offender registration. It prohibits federal support for "harm reduction" programs and safe consumption sites, requires states to prioritize treatment over "housing first" approaches, and mandates data sharing between health programs and law enforcement. The bill defines "unhoused individuals" as those posing public risks or unable to care for themselves for 3+ months. It applies to federal grant programs for homelessness services, mental health treatment, and housing assistance.

The MOSSA Act (HR 4878) directs federal agencies to prioritize funding for local governments enforcing laws against public drug use, camping, and loitering, while requiring homelessness programs to link participants with mental health/substance use treatment as a condition of aid. It mandates that federal grant programs for homelessness services end support for "housing first" approaches and "harm reduction" initiatives, instead requiring evidence-based treatment programs and stricter accountability for service providers. The bill also directs agencies to address sex offenders in homeless programs by restricting their housing with children and to review funding recipients operating drug injection sites for legal violations. These provisions collectively shift federal funding toward enforcement-focused and treatment-oriented homelessness strategies, affecting state/local governments, homeless service providers, and individuals accessing federal housing assistance.