Build Homes, Not Hate Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
Introduced
Summary
A $70 billion FEMA grant program to build affordable and market-rate housing and to fund homelessness services. The bill would fund housing development, preserve existing affordable units, and pay for emergency shelter, rental assistance, and supportive services for people facing homelessness.
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- Families and people experiencing homelessness: Provides at least $14 billion for emergency shelter, rental assistance, rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, housing navigation, case management, behavioral health and substance use services, employment help, and services for youth, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and people with disabilities.
- Local governments, tribes, public housing agencies, and nonprofits: Eligible to get grants to create housing through new construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, conversion, preservation, site acquisition, infrastructure, environmental remediation, accessibility upgrades, and operating reserves. At least $54 billion is reserved to produce housing units.
- Program design and limits: Up to $2 billion funds administration, technical assistance, data systems, oversight, inspections, and capacity building. The federal share can be up to 100 percent and the funds cannot be used for immigration enforcement activities.
*Projects no net change to federal spending because it appropriates $70 billion and permanently rescinds $70 billion in unobligated Immigration and Customs Enforcement balances.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
FEMA grants for housing and services
If enacted, the government would give FEMA $70 billion in fiscal year 2027 for a new housing and homelessness grant program. The money would be available until September 30, 2032 and FEMA would have to set up the program within one year after enactment. At least $54 billion would be reserved to build, buy, convert, rehab, or preserve housing units and at least $14 billion would fund emergency shelter, rental help, rapid rehousing, prevention, case management, behavioral health, employment, transportation, and other services. Up to $2 billion could pay for administration, technical help, data systems, inspections, and oversight. Grants would go to states, local governments, tribes, public housing agencies, nonprofits, or consortia, could cover up to 100% of project costs, and must supplement—not replace—other federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, or private housing or homelessness funds. Recipients could not use program funds for immigration enforcement, detention or removal operations, border wall construction, surveillance for immigration enforcement, or reimbursement of immigration enforcement costs.
Cancel $70 billion in ICE funds
If enacted, the bill would permanently rescind $70 billion of unobligated balances that had been made available to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The rescission would take effect on enactment and would reduce the funds ICE could spend from those earlier provisions.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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