Affordable Housing Resident Services Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4874

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Housing and Community Development

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Last Updated

2025-09-18T14:47:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 4874: Affordable Housing Resident Services Act

Purpose

This legislation establishes a new federal grant program to fund enriched supportive services for residents in federally assisted affordable housing properties. The goal is to improve access to health, education, economic, and other services while allowing residents to choose whether to participate.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program Creation: The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the Administration for Children and Families, awards competitive grants annually as part of the existing Services Research Demonstration program.
• Eligibility and Priority: Grants go to entities with experience owning, managing, or operating qualified housing properties or delivering resident services, or to tribes and tribal organizations. Priority is given to mission-driven nonprofit entities.
• Grant Terms: Awards last for 5 years and must be used for voluntary services only—no resident can be required to accept them.
• Eligible Activities: Up to 75% of funds may support service coordinators in areas such as:
• Access to health and mental health services.
• Educational programs like after-school activities, tutoring, and career readiness.
• Economic supports including financial literacy and housing stability.
• Services for older adults to age in place.
• Supports for residents with disabilities to live independently.
• Help accessing public benefits.
• Other activities approved by the Director.
• Funding Allocation: At least 25% of each grant must cover salaries, benefits, and training for service coordinators. Funds may also hire caseworkers.
• Qualified Properties: Includes housing assisted under programs like the low-income housing tax credit, various Section 8 rental assistance, USDA rural housing, supportive housing for elderly or disabled persons, and certain homeless assistance projects, among others.
• Selection Criteria: Awards consider factors like the ability to expand services, achieve measurable outcomes, prior experience, partnerships with local groups and health providers, and diversity in grantees (including rural, minority-owned, and underserved areas).
• Oversight and Use of Funds: The Director coordinates with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Up to 5% of total funds may support technical assistance, and grantees may use up to 1% for their own capacity building. Annual reports on activities and impacts must be submitted and posted publicly.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces a new grant program focused on resident services but does not amend or repeal specific provisions in existing housing or health laws. It operates within the framework of the Services Research Demonstration program and references multiple established federal housing assistance statutes without altering their core structures.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services gains responsibility for administering and evaluating the program, including coordination with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This may require additional administrative resources.
• Citizens: Residents in eligible affordable housing properties could gain expanded access to voluntary supportive services, potentially improving health, education, and economic outcomes, particularly for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families.
• International Relations: No direct effects identified.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Nonprofit organizations and entities involved in owning or managing affordable housing.
• Tribal governments and organizations.
• Residents of qualified federally assisted housing properties.
• Federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Local nonprofits, health care providers, and community partners that collaborate on service delivery.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The legislation emphasizes voluntary participation in services, which aligns with principles of individual choice in federally supported programs. It includes provisions for geographic and demographic diversity in grant awards but introduces no apparent constitutional conflicts, as it focuses on funding authorization rather than regulatory mandates. Implementation would depend on future appropriations.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33]

Cosponsors (19)

Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

Recent Actions

• 2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
• 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Affordable Housing Resident Services Act — issued 2025-08-05 — PDF (8 pages)