Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Jayapal
Introduced
Summary
End penalization of homelessness and expand Housing First supports. This bill would create new grants, a CDBG Plus block grant, permanent supportive housing priorities, voting access and library pilots, and new taxes on luxury property and large landlords to fund those programs.
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- Would expand help for people experiencing homelessness and very low-income households by creating Housing First and permanent supportive housing priorities, funding diversion and mobile crisis teams, and authorizing targeted grants like $100 million per year for DOJ alternatives to penalization and $1 billion per year for FEMA Emergency Food & Shelter for 10 years.
- Would change how local governments and service providers work with homeless people by requiring lived-experience participation, universal non-discrimination protections, staff training for entities receiving over $1 million, new citizen participation rules for CDBG Plus, and faster federal property conveyances for homeless-serving projects.
- Would raise dedicated revenue and target program funding by adding three new taxes: a 5% tax on real-estate sales of $10 million or more, a 10% transfer tax on anonymous-entity sales, and a 1% rent tax on very large landlords; ESG and Continuum of Care grants would be topped up to $10 billion annually through credits and appropriations.
*Would pair new dedicated taxes with expanded, recurring housing program funding and direct those revenues to HUD and related programs.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Big boost for homeless housing programs
If enacted, HUD would launch a new CDBG Plus program to build and fix deeply affordable housing and needed services. Funds could build units for very low-income renters, convert hotels to housing, improve ADA access, and add basic-needs infrastructure. Until HUD writes new rules, money would be split using the old CDBG formula; a new need-based formula would be set within 12 months. Treasury would credit housing revenues each year: 40% to Emergency Solutions Grants, 40% to Continuum of Care, and 20% to CDBG Plus. ESG and CoC would be topped up each year to reach $10 billion each, for the first fiscal year after enactment and the next nine years.
Grants to stop penalizing homelessness
If enacted, the Attorney General could give $100 million each year for ten years to build alternatives to punishing homelessness. States, cities, public defenders, and nonprofits could apply. The money would support diversion and other approaches that connect people to services instead of arrest or fines.
More emergency food and shelter help
If enacted, the Emergency Food and Shelter program would cover more needs, like hygiene supplies, shelter repairs, tiny homes, and medical respite. Boards and providers would need nondiscrimination rules that protect gender identity and appearance. The program would get $1 billion each year for ten years. GAO would issue three reports over 12, 24, and 36 months to review funding methods and provider compliance.
New taxes on big property deals
If enacted, sales of real property with $10,000,000 or more in total sale price would face a 5% tax, usually split between buyer and seller. Transfers to tax‑exempt groups or governments would be excepted. A separate 10% tax would apply if a buyer or seller is an anonymous entity that does not make beneficial owners publicly available (with some LEI program exceptions). These taxes would apply to sales after December 31, 2025.
More voices in federal homelessness council
If enacted, an advisory board of at least 20 people would be created, with at least 10 members who are currently or were recently homeless. The board would meet twice a year, and members would get a stipend and travel costs. The Council would need 75% approval of Council and advisory board members to appoint its Executive Director; if no agreement, the advisory chair would serve as interim. The Council would be required to use evidence‑based practices, promote Housing First, and address disparities.
Grants tied to fair, non-punitive rules
If enacted, any group getting this Act’s funds would need a written nondiscrimination policy, including protections for gender identity and expression. Nonprofits would need regular community input. Recipients with over $1,000,000 a year would train staff in harm reduction, de‑escalation, trauma‑informed care, bias, and disability rights. Governments would need to show they are not enforcing laws that punish sleeping outside and that property handling follows due process. The Secretary could waive some matching funds if a government adopts Housing First and plans to end penalization.
More help in schools and libraries
If enacted, the government would fund $10 million each year for ten years for library pilot programs serving homeless people. State, county, or city library agencies could subgrant to public, school, and public law school libraries, and must report progress each year. The bill would also authorize $10 million each year on a permanent basis for McKinney‑Vento Title II services for students and families facing homelessness.
Help homeless people vote: grants and study
If enacted, the Election Assistance Commission would give $5 million a year for ten years to help homeless and housing‑unstable people vote. Nonprofits must have nondiscrimination policies, and groups with strong track records would get priority. The Commission would also study state‑by‑state barriers, including voter ID and REAL ID, and report within one year.
1% rent tax for mega landlords
If enacted, a 1% tax would apply to rent paid when the landlord is a very large owner (over 1,000 units in one metro, over 2,000 units overall, or 500 units across at least 3 states). Units covered by rent control, just‑cause, or source‑of‑income laws would be exempt. This would apply after December 31, 2025.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jayapal
WA • D
Cosponsors
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Casar
TX • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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