Housing Crisis Response Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Waters
Introduced
Summary
Major federal investment to build, preserve, and make housing more affordable and resilient. The bill funds large-scale repairs and new construction, expands rental assistance, and creates homebuyer and community programs that target equity and climate resilience.
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- Public housing residents and very low-income renters see direct capital and rental aid. The bill provides major capital funding for repairs and replacement including $53.0 billion for priority investments and additional Capital Fund dollars, plus expanded tenant-based and targeted incremental vouchers for extremely low-income households and people exiting homelessness.
- First-generation homebuyers and homeowners get new downpayment support and counseling. It creates a First-Generation Downpayment Assistance Fund with $6.8 billion for state allocations and offers assistance as grants or forgivable aid capped at $20,000 or a percentage of price to help first-generation buyers afford a home.
- Communities, rural areas, and Native and tribal communities gain preservation, resilience, and revitalization tools. The bill funds community restoration and land trust programs with $2.0 billion, cancels certain National Flood Insurance Program debt, and provides $600 million for means-tested flood insurance discounts to reduce costs for eligible households.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
19 provisions identified: 19 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Community housing and land trust grants
This bill would fund local housing and community projects, including community land trusts. It provides $1.735 billion for CDBG-related grants, $700 million for colonias near the U.S.–Mexico border, and $500 million for manufactured housing community improvements. It also provides $2 billion for community restoration grants, $500 million for land trusts and shared equity programs, $400 million for technical help, and $100 million for HUD oversight. Homes funded must stay affordable long-term (often 30 years). Demolition is capped at 10% of a grant unless HUD finds greater benefit.
Downpayment help for first generation buyers
This bill would create one-time downpayment help for first-generation, first-time homebuyers. You could get the greater of $20,000 or 10% of the purchase price. You must finish HUD-approved counseling and meet income limits (up to 120% of area median income, or 140% in high-cost areas). The home must be your primary residence (1–4 units). If you move out within 5 years, you could owe a portion back unless you qualify for a hardship or other exception. Funding would run through September 30, 2028.
Housing funds for Native communities
This bill would provide housing money for Native American and Native Hawaiian communities through September 30, 2033. It includes $277.5 million for formula Indian Housing Block Grants, $277.5 million for competitive NAHASDA grants, and $200 million for competitive Indian Community Development Block Grants. It also provides $200 million for NAHASDA section 810(a) activities, community-wide infrastructure on Hawaiian Home Lands, and rental help for Native Hawaiians. Unused formula funds could be reallocated to competitive grants.
More housing vouchers for renters
This bill would add many Housing Choice Vouchers. It includes $15 billion for extremely low-income families and $7.1 billion for people facing homelessness or survivors of violence. It also sets money aside for tenant protection vouchers, mobility services, landlord incentives, and technical help. Housing agencies could accept or decline new vouchers, and HUD could reallocate any unleased vouchers. Main funds would be available through September 30, 2031, with other supports through 2033.
More supportive homes for seniors and disabled
This bill would fund supportive housing for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. It provides $450 million for senior housing (Section 202) and $450 million for disability housing (Section 811), plus technical help and HUD administration. The Secretary would set cost limits and contract terms, and may allow occupancy limits that match the services offered. Owner or sponsor contributions would not count against overall project costs. Funds would be available through September 30, 2033.
Preserve and upgrade affordable apartments
This bill would help fix and modernize affordable apartments and keep them affordable. It offers $1.55 billion in 1% direct loans (up to $6 billion in obligations) for distressed properties, with a required 30-year affordability period and usually a 20% non-federal match. It also provides $1.77 billion for loans or grants (and up to $4 billion in loan obligations) to improve energy, water, indoor air quality, and resilience in assisted multifamily housing. Plus, it adds $880 million for project-based rental assistance to support new or rehabbed buildings, with priorities for high-opportunity areas and people at risk of homelessness.
Public housing repairs and neighborhood upgrades
This bill would put major money into public and assisted housing. It adds $53 billion through 2028 for repairs, replacement, and new public housing, plus $10 billion for the Capital Fund using the 2021 formula. It also creates $1.2 billion in competitive grants for neighborhood transformation and replacement housing, with at least 20 years of affordability. Funds cannot be used for operating costs or rental assistance. From 2026 to 2033, these funds must supplement, not replace, other federal, state, local, or recipient money.
Remove lead hazards in homes
This bill would fund lead hazard removal in homes through September 30, 2033. It includes $3.425 billion for target housing that mostly does not get other housing aid, $1 billion for project-based rental properties, and $250 million for target housing in the Weatherization program. Owners who get project-based grants must give priority for at least 3 years to families with a child under age 6 for abated units. Up to 10% of each grant could cover admin costs, plus money for training and HUD oversight.
Rural home repairs and rental preservation
This bill would fund rural housing fixes and preserve affordable rentals. It provides $1.8 billion through September 30, 2031 for USDA loans and grants to repair, rebuild, and keep rural multifamily housing affordable. USDA could cut interest, defer payments, or re-amortize loans to prevent loss of affordable units. It also provides $90 million for single-family home repair grants and $10 million for admin, with fewer regulatory limits so more rural homeowners can make health and safety repairs.
Funding to run and oversee housing programs
This bill would provide $949.25 million to HUD to administer and oversee housing programs through September 30, 2033. Money could support IT systems, inspections, research, evaluations, and financial reporting, plus training and technical help. It also funds inspectors general at HUD ($43.25 million), Treasury ($5 million), and USDA ($2.5 million) for oversight.
Big boost to HOME housing funds
This bill would add $9.925 billion and $14.925 billion to the HOME program, available through September 30, 2028. HUD would allocate funds within 60 days using existing formulas. Matching and some usual requirements would not apply, and grantees could use up to 15% for admin and planning. It also provides $50 million for technical help and $100 million for HUD administration through 2033.
Income based flood insurance discounts
This bill would fund income-based discounts on National Flood Insurance Program premiums. People at or below 120% of area median income could qualify. FEMA would get $600 million for discounts through September 30, 2028 and must issue interim guidance within 21 months. The bill would also cancel NFIP debt as of enactment and use the would-be interest from fiscal year 2026 to improve flood maps and related work.
More accessible and visitable homes
This bill would require more accessible units in multifamily housing and set visitability rules for some federally assisted homes. At least 10% of units in each multifamily project would be mobility-accessible and at least 5% would be hearing or vision accessible. It would also require new, federally assisted single-family homes, townhouses, and small buildings to have at least one level that meets visitability standards. These rules would apply to units first occupied one year after enactment.
New 20 year FHA mortgage option
This bill would create a 20-year fixed-rate FHA-insured mortgage option. Monthly principal and interest would be 100%–110% of a comparable 30-year loan, and the mortgage insurance premium could not exceed 4% of the loan balance. Loans must get a case number by December 31, 2031. It provides $4 billion for loan costs and lets Ginnie Mae guarantee up to $60 billion in these loans, with other caps on total loan volume.
Stronger fair housing enforcement and outreach
This bill would expand funding for fair housing work. It provides $540 million for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, $75 million for state and local agency cooperation, and additional funds for research and HUD oversight. Some grants could last up to 10 years to support testing, investigations, education, and outreach.
Planning grants to grow housing supply
This bill would create the Unlocking Possibilities grants to help states and regions plan and speed up housing. It provides $1.646 billion for planning, regulatory streamlining, and livable community investments, plus funds for research, technical help, and HUD administration. Grants would be competitive and available through September 30, 2033.
More financing for affordable housing
This bill would add capital for affordable housing through CDFIs and the Federal Home Loan Banks. It provides $740 million to a new Housing Investment Fund for grants to CDFIs and nonprofits, plus $10 million for administration, available through 2028. It also requires each Home Loan Bank from 2026–2031 to contribute 15% of prior-year net income (with a $100 million aggregate floor) to affordable housing programs.
Pilot for small dollar mortgages
This bill would launch a HUD pilot to support mortgages of $100,000 or less. Loans must be for a 1–4 unit home that is your primary residence. It provides $76 million for program activities, $10 million for loan costs, and $14 million for HUD oversight. Funds would be available through September 30, 2033.
Capacity building for housing nonprofits
This bill would give $90 million for technical help to nonprofits and community groups that build or preserve affordable housing. Grants could fund training, predevelopment help, and other support to serve low-income and socially disadvantaged communities. It also provides $10 million for HUD oversight. Funds would be available through September 30, 2033.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Waters
CA • D
Cosponsors
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Ramirez
IL • 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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