HR2945-119

1. Short title; table of contents This Act may be cited as the Housing for All Act of 2025. The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

2. Definitions In this Act: The term at risk of homelessness has the meaning given the term in section 401 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360). The terms homeless and homeless person have the meanings given those terms in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302). The terms Indian Tribe and tribally designated housing entity have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103). The term justice system-involved includes individuals who are or have been incarcerated or held in municipal, State, or Federal jails, prisons, juvenile facilities, or other types of detention facilities, who have been held in pre-trial or post-conviction detention, who have an arrest or conviction regardless of whether they were detained or incarcerated, who have been held in immigration detention, or, with respect to youth, who are or have been held in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services. The term population at higher risk of homelessness means a group of individuals that is defined by a common characteristic and that has been found to experience homelessness, housing instability, or to be cost-burdened at a rate higher than that of the general public. Information that may be used in demonstrating such a higher rate includes data generated by the Federal Government, by State or municipal governments, by peer-reviewed research, and by organizations having expertise in working with or advocating on behalf of homeless, housing unstable, or cost-burdened groups. Such term shall include populations for which such higher rate has already been demonstrated, including Asian, Black, Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other communities of color, individuals with disabilities, including mental health disabilities, elderly individuals, foster and former foster youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, gender non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals, veterans, and such additional communities and individuals as the Secretary may include after receiving public comment. The term public housing agency has the meaning given the term in section 3(b)(6) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6)). The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

105. Technical assistance for navigating Federal and State housing funding sources The Secretary shall establish a grant program to provide technical assistance to States relating to the understanding of the relationship between Federal and State housing funding sources and how to best use those sources to finance housing projects in the State, such as permanent supportive housing, including resources, tools, and products that— provide assistance on coordinating a single application for multiple funding sources; provide assistance on consolidating funding sources and implementing reporting requirements at the State level; and support staff capacity within State housing finance agencies to maintain the collaborations and systems necessary to better align types of funding with need and expand access to housing stability. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended, to carry out this section.

209. Racial equity commission There is established a commission to be known as the Commission on Racial Equity in Housing (in this section referred to as the Commission) to support the Council with efforts to conduct research into, collect, analyze, and make publicly available data on, and provide leadership and coordination for furthering racial equity in housing, examining the impacts of structural racism on housing and homelessness, and the effectiveness of intervention strategies to address these impacts. The Commission shall report to the Executive Director of the Council and work in partnership with employees of the Council. The Commission shall be composed of 14 members, who shall be— appointed by the Executive Director of the Council not later than January 1, 2026; and fairly balanced in terms of points of view represented and background experience. Each member of the Commission shall have— proven expertise in directing, assembling, or applying capital resources from a variety of sources to the successful development of affordable housing, assisted living facilities, or health care facilities; lived experience with homelessness; or demonstrated experience in— homeless services, affordable housing, or housing law; and racial equity work. The Executive Director shall appoint 2 co-chairpersons of the Commission from among the members of the Commission. Any vacancy on the Commission shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. Members of the Commission shall serve without pay. Each member of the Commission shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings. The Commission shall meet at the call of the co-chairpersons of the Commission. The Commission shall have a Director who shall be— appointed by the co-chairpersons of the Commission; and paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. The Commission may appoint personnel as appropriate subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and who shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. The Council may procure temporary and intermittent services to support the work of the Commission under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for the General Schedule. Upon request of the Council and the Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this section. The Commission shall— work with the Council to make recommendations, inform, and participate in efforts to conduct research into, collect, analyze, and make publicly available data on, and provide leadership and coordination for furthering racial equity in housing, examining the impacts of structural racism on housing and homelessness, and the effectiveness of intervention strategies to address these impacts; and work with the Council to implement the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. The Council shall submit to Congress, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, the Chair of the Federal Reserve, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and such other individuals as the Commission determines relevant an annual report on research findings with recommendations to improve racial equity in housing and to disrupt processes that preserve and reinforce racism and racial disparities in housing and homelessness services. Section 1013 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Commission. There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

201. Expansion of housing choice voucher program In this section: The term eligible household means a family who initially— has an income that does not exceed 50 percent of the maximum income limitation for extremely low-income families established by the Secretary pursuant to section 3(b)(2)(C) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)(C)); or is an extremely low-income family that includes an individual who is an individual who is a recipient of supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.). The terms extremely low-income family and State have the meanings given those terms in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)). There is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for providing incremental vouchers for rental assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) in accordance with this section for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028, the amount necessary to fund— the number of incremental vouchers required to be allocated under paragraph (2); annual renewals of the vouchers allocated under paragraph (2); and administrative fees for vouchers allocated under paragraph (2). The Secretary shall allocate 500,000 incremental vouchers in fiscal year 2025 and 1,000,000 incremental vouchers in increments of 500,000 in each calendar year from 2026 through 2028 under this section to public housing agencies pursuant to section 213(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 1439(d)). The Secretary shall, by notice in the Federal Register, establish selection criteria under section 213(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 1439(d)) that prioritizes housing needs among eligible households and severe housing hardship, such as experiencing homelessness, overcrowding, or evictions. On and after the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, any family that is otherwise eligible for tenant-based rental assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) shall be entitled to that rental assistance during any period that the family is an eligible household. There is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary— to provide assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) in accordance with the entitlement under paragraph (1) of this subsection for each eligible household in the amount determined under such section 8(o); and to provide administrative fees under section 8(q) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(q)) in connection with each voucher for assistance provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

206. GAO report on eviction data Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that examines— with respect to eviction moratoriums during the COVID–19 pandemic— how eviction moratoriums have contributed to housing stability; an analysis of formal and informal evictions during the periods in which the moratoriums were in effect; and an economic analysis of how the eviction moratoriums saved public funds, such as by reducing shelter costs; whether women, Black, Hispanic, and other minority renters disproportionately faced eviction during the COVID–19 pandemic, and an accounting of the disproportionate risk of eviction faced by veterans, children, the elderly, and individuals living with disabilities during the COVID–19 pandemic; the barriers that exist to collecting the data related to paragraphs (1) and (2); the barriers that exist to collecting, digitizing, and standardizing data from the beginning to the end of the eviction process, such as pre-eviction information, the renter’s race or ethnicity, age and gender, as well as the composition of the household and landlord data; and a study of the relationship between emergency rental assistance distribution and eviction patterns, as well as how emergency rental assistance affected evictions, during the periods in which the eviction moratoriums were in effect during the COVID–19 pandemic.

305. Library consortium pilot grants Part A of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section: The term eligible entity means— an eligible library; a library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction; an eligible library consortium; or a library association that exists on a permanent basis, serves libraries or library professionals on a national, regional, State, or local level, and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries and the library profession. The term eligible library means— a public library; an elementary or secondary school library; a library that is operated by an institution of higher education; a research library or archive that is not an integral part of an institution of higher education and that makes publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available; or a Tribal library. The term eligible library consortium means a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries. From amounts made available under this section for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable those eligible entities to carry out pilot programs to address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. Each eligible entity receiving funds under this section may use such funds to provide programs or resources that address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness by— connecting them with resources to help them transition to stable, independent or supported living, through the eligible entity’s own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries, as appropriate; providing homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness with programs on issues such as health, mortgage or rental assistance, and applying for government benefits; or partnering with other community organizations or the locality’s department of public health for outreach activities and connections to other relevant services. In awarding a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall— require eligible libraries desiring a subgrant to submit an application containing— the estimated number of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness that will be served under the homelessness-related programs to be funded by the subgrant; and any other criteria established by the grantee in the application submitted under subsection (d); and give preference to eligible libraries that propose to carry out programs or develop resources that integrate existing Federal or State programs that serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require. Each application shall include— a description of the homelessness-related programs or resources that the eligible entity will support (in accordance with subsection (c)(1)) either through its own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries; a description of how community or governmental partners will be involved in the homelessness-related programs or resources provided by the eligible entity; and in the case of projects that the eligible entity intends to carry out through subgrants— a description of how the eligible entity will make subgrants, including any priorities or considerations that will be applied in making such subgrants; a description of how the eligible entity will disseminate, in a timely manner, information regarding the subgrants, and the application process for such subgrants; a description of the criteria that the eligible entity will require for the programs carried out by subgrantees with funds awarded by that eligible entity; and an assurance that each eligible library that receives a subgrant will use the funds from that subgrant to provide programs that primarily serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. In carrying out this section, the Assistant Secretary— shall consult with the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and may consult with the Interagency Council on Homelessness or any other appropriate Federal agency or office to help ensure that funds are disbursed and utilized effectively. Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall prepare and submit a report to the Assistant Secretary, in such form and containing such information, as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require to determine the extent to which funds provided under this section have been effective in carrying out the purposes of this section. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this section and for each of the 9 succeeding fiscal years thereafter. 506B.Library consortium pilot grants(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Eligible entityThe term eligible entity means—(A)an eligible library;(B)a library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction;(C)an eligible library consortium; or(D)a library association that exists on a permanent basis, serves libraries or library professionals on a national, regional, State, or local level, and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries and the library profession.(2)Eligible libraryThe term eligible library means—(A)a public library;(B)an elementary or secondary school library;(C)a library that is operated by an institution of higher education;(D)a research library or archive that is not an integral part of an institution of higher education and that makes publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available; or(E)a Tribal library. (3)Eligible library consortiumThe term eligible library consortium means a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries.(b)Grant programFrom amounts made available under this section for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable those eligible entities to carry out pilot programs to address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness.(c)Use of funds(1)In generalEach eligible entity receiving funds under this section may use such funds to provide programs or resources that address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness by—(A)connecting them with resources to help them transition to stable, independent or supported living, through the eligible entity’s own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries, as appropriate; (B)providing homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness with programs on issues such as health, mortgage or rental assistance, and applying for government benefits; or(C)partnering with other community organizations or the locality’s department of public health for outreach activities and connections to other relevant services.(2)Criteria for subgrantsIn awarding a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall—(A)require eligible libraries desiring a subgrant to submit an application containing—(i)the estimated number of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness that will be served under the homelessness-related programs to be funded by the subgrant; and(ii)any other criteria established by the grantee in the application submitted under subsection (d); and(B)give preference to eligible libraries that propose to carry out programs or develop resources that integrate existing Federal or State programs that serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. (d)ApplicationAn eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require. Each application shall include—(1)a description of the homelessness-related programs or resources that the eligible entity will support (in accordance with subsection (c)(1)) either through its own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries;(2)a description of how community or governmental partners will be involved in the homelessness-related programs or resources provided by the eligible entity; and(3)in the case of projects that the eligible entity intends to carry out through subgrants—(A)a description of how the eligible entity will make subgrants, including any priorities or considerations that will be applied in making such subgrants;(B)a description of how the eligible entity will disseminate, in a timely manner, information regarding the subgrants, and the application process for such subgrants;(C)a description of the criteria that the eligible entity will require for the programs carried out by subgrantees with funds awarded by that eligible entity; and(D)an assurance that each eligible library that receives a subgrant will use the funds from that subgrant to provide programs that primarily serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness.(e)ConsultationIn carrying out this section, the Assistant Secretary—(1)shall consult with the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and(2)may consult with the Interagency Council on Homelessness or any other appropriate Federal agency or office to help ensure that funds are disbursed and utilized effectively.(f)ReportsEach eligible entity receiving a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall prepare and submit a report to the Assistant Secretary, in such form and containing such information, as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require to determine the extent to which funds provided under this section have been effective in carrying out the purposes of this section. (g)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this section and for each of the 9 succeeding fiscal years thereafter..

506B. Library consortium pilot grants In this section: The term eligible entity means— an eligible library; a library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction; an eligible library consortium; or a library association that exists on a permanent basis, serves libraries or library professionals on a national, regional, State, or local level, and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries and the library profession. The term eligible library means— a public library; an elementary or secondary school library; a library that is operated by an institution of higher education; a research library or archive that is not an integral part of an institution of higher education and that makes publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available; or a Tribal library. The term eligible library consortium means a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries. From amounts made available under this section for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable those eligible entities to carry out pilot programs to address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. Each eligible entity receiving funds under this section may use such funds to provide programs or resources that address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness by— connecting them with resources to help them transition to stable, independent or supported living, through the eligible entity’s own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries, as appropriate; providing homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness with programs on issues such as health, mortgage or rental assistance, and applying for government benefits; or partnering with other community organizations or the locality’s department of public health for outreach activities and connections to other relevant services. In awarding a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall— require eligible libraries desiring a subgrant to submit an application containing— the estimated number of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness that will be served under the homelessness-related programs to be funded by the subgrant; and any other criteria established by the grantee in the application submitted under subsection (d); and give preference to eligible libraries that propose to carry out programs or develop resources that integrate existing Federal or State programs that serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require. Each application shall include— a description of the homelessness-related programs or resources that the eligible entity will support (in accordance with subsection (c)(1)) either through its own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries; a description of how community or governmental partners will be involved in the homelessness-related programs or resources provided by the eligible entity; and in the case of projects that the eligible entity intends to carry out through subgrants— a description of how the eligible entity will make subgrants, including any priorities or considerations that will be applied in making such subgrants; a description of how the eligible entity will disseminate, in a timely manner, information regarding the subgrants, and the application process for such subgrants; a description of the criteria that the eligible entity will require for the programs carried out by subgrantees with funds awarded by that eligible entity; and an assurance that each eligible library that receives a subgrant will use the funds from that subgrant to provide programs that primarily serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. In carrying out this section, the Assistant Secretary— shall consult with the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and may consult with the Interagency Council on Homelessness or any other appropriate Federal agency or office to help ensure that funds are disbursed and utilized effectively. Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall prepare and submit a report to the Assistant Secretary, in such form and containing such information, as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require to determine the extent to which funds provided under this section have been effective in carrying out the purposes of this section. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this section and for each of the 9 succeeding fiscal years thereafter.

306. Report on inclusive transit-oriented development to enhance climate mitigation and disaster resiliency Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on how to add a focus to housing programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development on— infill projects that better connect people to jobs and transit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and supporting developers and local governments constructing units on existing or underused urban land close to city amenities and transportation.

307. Establishing an innovation pilot within the carbon reduction program Section 175(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraphs (2) and (3); and by adding at the end the following: In addition to eligible projects under paragraphs (1) and (2), funds apportioned to a State under section 104(b)(7) may be used for innovative strategies to reduce transportation emissions, including associated infrastructure improvements that will increase the share of nonmotorized trips and improve the efficiency of existing surface transportation infrastructure to address carbon reduction. Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide notice and guidance for interested entities to participate in activities under subparagraph (A). Funds used to carry out a project under subparagraph (A) may not be used on a project that increases net capacity for vehicular travel. (3)Innovation pilot(A)In generalIn addition to eligible projects under paragraphs (1) and (2), funds apportioned to a State under section 104(b)(7) may be used for innovative strategies to reduce transportation emissions, including associated infrastructure improvements that will increase the share of nonmotorized trips and improve the efficiency of existing surface transportation infrastructure to address carbon reduction. (B)NoticeNot later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide notice and guidance for interested entities to participate in activities under subparagraph (A). (C)ExclusionFunds used to carry out a project under subparagraph (A) may not be used on a project that increases net capacity for vehicular travel..

308. Making infill housing and other transportation efficiency projects eligible for RAISE grants Section 6702(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— in subparagraph (G), by striking and at the end; by redesignating subparagraph (H) as subparagraph (I); and by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following: a project or series of projects to reduce transportation emissions, including associated infrastructure improvements to support infill development or transit-oriented development, and to increase nonmotorized trips, subject to the conditions that— the project or series of projects shall directly improve the efficiency of existing surface transportation infrastructure; and the Federal share for the project or series of projects shall be used to fund only the elements of the project or series that provide public benefits; and (H)a project or series of projects to reduce transportation emissions, including associated infrastructure improvements to support infill development or transit-oriented development, and to increase nonmotorized trips, subject to the conditions that—(i)the project or series of projects shall directly improve the efficiency of existing surface transportation infrastructure; and(ii)the Federal share for the project or series of projects shall be used to fund only the elements of the project or series that provide public benefits; and.