HAVEN Act

Bill Number

H.R. 3133

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Housing and Community Development

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-05-01: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2025-10-04T08:05:38Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Housing Accessibility and Voucher Expansion Now Act (HAVEN Act), H.R. 3133, aims to make federal rental assistance more affordable and accessible for low-income households. It reduces the rent burden on tenants, prohibits discrimination based on how someone pays rent (such as using vouchers), and significantly expands the Housing Choice Voucher Program to help more families afford stable housing.

Key Provisions

• Rental Payment Adjustments (Section 2): Lowers the tenant's share of rent from 30% to 20% of their adjusted monthly income in major federal programs, including public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and assistance for farmworkers, seniors, and people with disabilities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must ensure this change does not reduce the number of people receiving aid.
• Increased Funding Authorizations (Section 3): Provides ongoing funding starting in fiscal year 2026 for public housing operations, senior housing, and supportive housing for people with disabilities, replacing limited prior authorizations with "such sums as necessary."
• Ban on Source of Income Discrimination (Section 4): Amends the Fair Housing Act to treat "lawful source of income" (e.g., rental vouchers or subsidies) as a protected category, similar to race or national origin. This makes it illegal for landlords to refuse tenants based on their payment method in sales, rentals, or financing of housing.
• Housing Navigation Grants (Section 5): Creates a grant program for public housing agencies (PHAs) to help voucher holders find housing, including subgrants to nonprofits for search assistance or landlord outreach. Authorizes $20 million annually starting in 2026.
• Small Area Fair Market Rents (Section 6): Requires HUD to calculate voucher rent limits by zip code (small areas) instead of broader regions, effective 2026, to better reflect local market differences.
• Technical Assistance Expansion (Section 7): Allows PHAs to use funds for technical help to applicants waiting for public housing admission.
• Voucher Program Expansion (Section 8):
• Allocates 500,000 new (incremental) vouchers in 2026, plus 500,000 more each year through 2029 (totaling 2.5 million), prioritizing families facing homelessness, overcrowding, or evictions.
• Provides mandatory funding for these vouchers, renewals, and administrative fees.
• After five years, creates an entitlement: Any eligible household (income up to 80% of area median income) must receive a voucher if funds are available, with ongoing appropriations to cover it.
• Section 8 Management Improvements (Section 9): Directs HUD to update its performance assessment for PHAs (SEMAP) within one year to evaluate how quickly they approve vouchers for families and landlords.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Rent Burden Reduction: Shifts tenant contributions from 30% to 20% of income across multiple housing laws (e.g., United States Housing Act of 1937, Housing Act of 1949), increasing the subsidy portion covered by federal funds and adding compensation for PHAs' lost revenue in public housing.
• Anti-Discrimination Expansion: Adds source of income to the Fair Housing Act's protected classes, extending prohibitions on discrimination in housing transactions—previously limited to categories like race, color, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.
• Voucher Reforms: Mandates zip code-based rent calculations (previously optional or regional) and introduces navigation grants and technical assistance, which were not previously required.
• Massive Scale-Up and Entitlement: Provides direct appropriations for millions of new vouchers over four years and transitions the program to an entitlement after five years, changing it from a discretionary, waitlist-based system to one with guaranteed access for eligible low-income families (up to 80% of area median income).

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: HUD and PHAs will face increased administrative demands, including managing more vouchers, implementing new rent calculations, and enforcing anti-discrimination rules. This requires significant new funding (e.g., billions for vouchers), potentially straining budgets but with built-in appropriations to support expansion without cutting existing aid.
• On Citizens: Low-income renters, especially those facing homelessness or housing instability, will benefit from lower out-of-pocket rents, easier access to vouchers, and protection from landlord refusals of subsidies. This could reduce evictions and overcrowding, improving housing stability for millions, though wait times may persist initially during the ramp-up.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic housing policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Low-Income Households: Primary beneficiaries, including families with incomes up to 80% of area median (e.g., working poor, seniors, disabled individuals, farmworkers), who gain affordable rent options and anti-discrimination protections.
• Public Housing Agencies (PHAs): Responsible for implementing changes; they receive new grants, funding for lost revenue, and more vouchers but must handle expanded operations and assessments.
• Landlords and Property Owners: Required to accept lawful income sources like vouchers; may see more reliable tenants but could face adjustments to rent limits in high-cost areas.
• Nonprofit Organizations: Eligible for subgrants to assist with housing searches, expanding their role in supportive services.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Oversees all changes, including rule-making, grant programs, and funding distribution.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens enforcement under the Fair Housing Act by adding a new protected class, potentially leading to more lawsuits against discriminatory practices (e.g., refusing voucher payments). The entitlement provision after five years shifts the program toward a legal right, which could invite court challenges if funding shortfalls occur, though appropriations aim to prevent this.
• Constitutional: No major issues anticipated; the bill aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I and equal protection principles by addressing housing disparities without infringing on states' rights (implementation is federal but involves local PHAs).
• Political: Represents a substantial federal investment in affordable housing (e.g., expanding vouchers by 2.5 million), which could reduce poverty but spark debates over costs and scope. It prioritizes equity for vulnerable groups, potentially influencing future housing policy toward more universal access rather than targeted aid.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-05-01: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-05-01: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-05-01: Introduced in House
• 2025-05-01: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Housing Accessibility and Voucher Expansion Now Act — issued 2025-05-01 — PDF (10 pages)