Ending Homelessness Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Waters
Introduced
Summary
Creates a national entitlement for tenant‑based rental assistance by phasing in hundreds of thousands of new vouchers and restructuring HUD programs to make rental aid broadly available. It also pairs that expansion with new emergency and trust fund dollars and stronger source‑of‑income and fair housing protections.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More Housing Trust Fund homes and rent cap
If enacted, $1 billion a year from 2025 to 2029 would go into the Housing Trust Fund. For the first five years, available units paid for with this money would prioritize people who are homeless. In all Housing Trust Fund rental units, your rent share could not be more than 30% of your adjusted income. HUD would issue rules within 90 days.
More vouchers now, vouchers become a right
If enacted, HUD would add 500,000 new housing vouchers in 2025 and 1,000,000 more each year from 2026 through 2028. Starting in 2029, tenant-based vouchers would become an entitlement that grows each year to include more low-income families, reaching all low-income families by 2033 and after. Some current ineligibility rules would not apply for this entitlement starting October 1, 2027. Families who get help could keep it even if their income later rises within program rules.
Easier to use vouchers and lease homes
If enacted, housing agencies could attach vouchers to certain buildings, and families could switch back to tenant-based help at any time. Agencies could pay security deposits and broker or application fees within HUD limits; deposits paid with program funds would be returned to HUD when the family leaves. HUD would set fair market rents by ZIP Code starting in fiscal year 2025, except in metro areas with a 4% or lower vacancy rate. HUD would also set a new administrative fee that reflects local costs, and these funds could not be used for the Moving to Work program.
Five-year grants for homelessness and outreach
If enacted, the government would provide $1 billion a year from 2025 to 2029 for emergency grants to meet unmet housing needs. At least 75% must fund permanent supportive housing unless HUD grants an exemption; no more than 5% could cover admin costs. HUD would set the formula and rules within six months and report results each year. Another $100 million a year from 2025 to 2029 would fund outreach staff like case managers and social workers; no money could be used for law enforcement.
Ban income-source bias; boost fair housing
If enacted, it would be illegal to deny housing because of how you pay rent. Protected income would include vouchers, Social Security, SSI, child or spousal support, trust or family help, and savings. The bill would also authorize $90 million a year for FHIP and $47 million a year for FHAP from 2025 through 2034, plus $3 million a year for a national media campaign from 2025 through 2027.
Income targeting rule ends in 2030
If enacted, the law would remove a statutory income‑targeting rule for public housing and vouchers on October 1, 2030. This could change how agencies prioritize which low‑income renters get help. The exact effects would depend on future HUD rules and local housing agency policies.
HUD help to link Medicaid and housing
If enacted, HUD would get $20 million for technical help to connect Medicaid and housing for supportive services. The money would stay available until spent and focus on places with many chronically homeless people and long‑term affordable housing efforts. HUD would set rules to avoid rewarding rollbacks of health, safety, or zoning protections.
Grant priority and faith-based access rules
If enacted, HUD would give priority for grants to applicants serving areas that have decriminalized homelessness. The bill would also bar HUD and others from excluding groups from funding just because they are faith-based. These rules could influence where Act dollars go, but they do not add new funding by themselves.
Ongoing funding authority for homeless aid
If enacted, Congress would be allowed to appropriate whatever sums are needed each year for McKinney‑Vento homeless programs. The bill would also repeal a McKinney‑Vento section that governs coordination rules. This change itself would not provide money; it sets the authority to fund programs in future budgets.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Waters
CA • D
Cosponsors
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Williams (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Meeks
NY • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Casar
TX • D
Sponsored 11/28/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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