Ending Homelessness Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4872

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Housing and Community Development

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-08-05: 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

2026-06-11T23:26:31Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Ending Homelessness Act of 2025 aims to create a comprehensive strategy to end homelessness in the United States by expanding access to affordable housing, providing dedicated funding for supportive services, strengthening anti-discrimination protections, and coordinating federal efforts across housing and health systems. It builds on existing programs like the Housing Choice Voucher program and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to prioritize extremely low-income and homeless individuals.

Key Provisions

• Expansion of Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 2): Allocates funds for 500,000 new vouchers in fiscal year 2025 and up to 1 million more incrementally through 2028, targeting extremely low-income families (those earning no more than 50% of the area median income) or those receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits. Vouchers provide rental assistance to help families afford private market housing.
• Entitlement to Vouchers (Section 3): Starting in 2029, creates a mandatory entitlement program where eligible low-income families (gradually expanding from extremely low-income to all low-income families by 2033) receive vouchers as long as they meet income criteria. Includes ongoing eligibility for previously assisted families, encourages regional administration by public housing agencies (local government entities that manage vouchers), allows use of small-area fair market rents (localized rent standards based on ZIP codes to better reflect local costs), permits project-based attachments to specific buildings with mobility options, covers security deposits, and sets new administrative fees to support efficient program management. Prohibits using these funds in the "Moving to Work" demonstration program, which allows some agencies flexibility in housing rules.
• Repeal of Ineligibility Barriers (Section 4): Removes certain restrictions, such as lifetime bans for those with drug-related evictions or sex offender registrations, for participants in the new voucher entitlement program, making it easier for more people to qualify.
• Ban on Source-of-Income Discrimination (Section 5): Amends the Fair Housing Act to protect against discrimination based on "source of income," defined broadly to include housing vouchers, Social Security benefits, child support, trusts, savings, and other subsidies. Authorizes $90 million annually (2025–2034) for fair housing initiatives, $47 million for assistance programs, and $3 million (2025–2027) for public awareness campaigns. Allows preferences for veterans and provides a grace period for enforcement agencies to adapt.
• Emergency Funding for Unmet Needs (Section 6): Provides $1 billion annually (2025–2029) for formula-based grants to high-need areas, prioritizing regions with high poverty, housing shortages, overcrowding, and unsheltered homelessness; favors localities with policies promoting affordable housing (e.g., zoning incentives for low-income units lasting at least 15 years) and decriminalizing homelessness (e.g., not punishing sleeping in public). At least 75% of funds must go to permanent supportive housing (long-term rentals with services like counseling), following a "Housing First" approach (prioritizing housing without preconditions like sobriety). Limits administrative costs to 5%. Adds $100 million annually for outreach grants to hire case managers and social workers for homeless and formerly homeless people, with similar priorities. Requires annual reporting to Congress on impacts.
• Housing Trust Fund Boost (Section 7): Deposits $1 billion annually (2025–2029) into the existing Housing Trust Fund, which supports affordable rental and homeownership projects. Gives priority occupancy to homeless individuals in funded units and caps tenant rent contributions at 30% of adjusted family income (a change from prior flexible limits).
• Technical Assistance for Health-Housing Integration (Section 8): Allocates $20 million for technical help to states and localities in linking housing aid with health programs like Medicaid, focusing on supportive services for chronically homeless people (those homeless for a year or more with disabilities). Prioritizes high-need areas and those with affordable housing policies.
• Permanent Funding and Coordination (Sections 9–12, 14): Makes McKinney-Vento grants (for shelters, services, and rapid rehousing) permanently authorized without annual caps. Permanently extends the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (a federal coordinating body). Ensures private nonprofits and faith-based organizations can access funds without discrimination. Gives funding priority to areas that decriminalize homelessness.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Transforms the Housing Choice Voucher program from discretionary (funding varies yearly) to an entitlement (guaranteed for eligible families from 2029), with phased income expansions and repeal of the income targeting rule that required 75% of vouchers for very low-income families.
• Adds "source of income" as a protected category under the Fair Housing Act, expanding civil rights protections beyond race, disability, and family status; previously, some states had similar laws, but this makes it federal.
• Introduces mandatory priorities in funding formulas, such as rewarding decriminalization of homelessness and affordable housing zoning, while protecting labor, safety, environmental, and fair housing standards.
• Permanently authorizes and funds key homelessness programs, repealing expiration dates and sunsets (e.g., for the Interagency Council).
• Limits tenant rent burdens to 30% of income in Housing Trust Fund projects and allows voucher use for security deposits, which were previously restricted.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will manage significantly increased funding (billions annually), requiring new regulations, data collection, and oversight for vouchers, grants, and enforcement. Public housing agencies may form regional groups for efficiency but face higher administrative demands. Local governments could see incentives to adopt pro-housing policies, potentially straining resources in high-need areas.
• On Citizens: Homeless and low-income individuals (especially chronically homeless, families, and those with disabilities) gain better access to stable housing, reducing evictions, overcrowding, and unsheltered living. Broader families benefit from anti-discrimination rules, making it easier to use vouchers or benefits for rentals. Veterans receive explicit preferences. However, rapid expansion could lead to waitlists or implementation delays.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic housing policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Homeless and Low-Income Individuals/Families: Primary beneficiaries through expanded vouchers, supportive housing, and anti-discrimination protections.
• Public Housing Agencies and Local Governments: Responsible for administering programs; incentivized to adopt policies like decriminalizing homelessness and zoning for affordable units.
• Nonprofits and Faith-Based Organizations: Newly eligible or reaffirmed for funding to provide services, outreach, and housing support.
• HUD and Federal Partners: Including the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Health and Human Services, tasked with coordination, technical assistance, and reporting.
• Landlords and Housing Providers: Affected by fair housing mandates and incentives for affordable projects, potentially increasing rental opportunities but requiring compliance with income-source rules.
• Veterans and Chronically Homeless People: Receive targeted priorities in occupancy and services.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Strengthens fair housing enforcement by federalizing source-of-income protections, potentially increasing lawsuits against discriminatory landlords (remedies include damages and attorney fees). Repeals of ineligibility criteria could face challenges from housing authorities or crime victim advocates, but exemptions maintain some safeguards. The 30% rent cap and Housing First mandates standardize affordability, reducing disputes over rent calculations.
• Constitutional Implications: None directly challenged; the bill aligns with equal protection under the 14th Amendment by addressing housing disparities and avoids infringing on free exercise of religion by protecting faith-based eligibility.
• Political Implications: Shifts policy toward entitlement-based housing aid, which could reduce homelessness but raise fiscal debates over uncapped appropriations (mandatory spending). Priorities for decriminalization and zoning reforms may polarize localities, rewarding progressive policies while safeguarding worker and environmental protections to avoid backlash. The focus on coordination with Medicaid highlights interagency collaboration but could strain budgets in conservative states resistant to federal mandates.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]

Cosponsors (23)

Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

Recent Actions

• 2025-08-05: 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.
• 2025-08-05: 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.
• 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Ending Homelessness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-08-05 — PDF (32 pages)