Grandfamily Housing Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5916
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-04: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-18T09:07:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Grandfamily Housing Act of 2025 aims to support housing options for "grandfamilies"—intergenerational households where grandparents or older relatives care for children—by providing federal grants to property owners. This helps cover costs for services, outreach, and facility improvements that benefit these families, addressing challenges like caregiving and community integration.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary must create a grant program within 180 days of enactment. Grants go to owners of "intergenerational dwelling units" (properties designed or adapted for multi-generational families living together).
- Eligibility and Application: Owners apply through HUD with required details; no specific eligibility criteria beyond ownership are detailed.
- Allowed Uses of Grants:
- Hiring a "service coordinator" to provide on-site support, such as tutoring, health care, after-school care, and age-appropriate activities for children.
- Coordinating with local "kinship navigator programs" (state-funded services that help families navigate child welfare and support systems, as defined in the Social Security Act).
- Conducting outreach to connect with nearby grandfamilies through events and information sessions.
- Planning and delivering family services.
- Retrofitting (modifying) and maintaining property spaces for these programs.
- Outreach Requirements: Grant recipients must engage local communities with periodic outreach and events, ideally partnering with kinship navigators or similar state programs.
- Funding: Authorizes whatever funds are needed for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
- Nondiscrimination Rule: The program must follow the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or family status.
- VAWA Integration: Adds the grant program to the list of covered housing under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), ensuring protections like emergency transfers for victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.
- Reporting Requirement: HUD must report to Congress within two years on the program's effectiveness and suggest improvements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amendment to LEGACY Act of 2003: Adds a new Section 206 to Title II, creating the grant program from scratch within an existing law focused on housing legacies (likely supportive housing initiatives).
- Amendment to VAWA of 1994: Expands VAWA's protections to include this new grant program, inserting it into the list of eligible housing types (previously covered types include public housing and certain rentals; this adds intergenerational units).
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HUD gains responsibility for administering grants, applications, and reporting, potentially increasing workload and budget needs. Local kinship programs may see more coordination demands.
- On Citizens: Grandfamilies benefit from enhanced on-site services, reducing barriers to child care, education, and health support. Property owners receive funding to make housing more family-friendly, possibly increasing availability of such units. Victims of domestic violence in these units gain explicit relocation protections.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic housing initiative.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Property Owners: Eligible for grants to improve and operate intergenerational housing.
- Intergenerational Families (Grandfamilies): Primary beneficiaries through services, outreach, and safer housing options.
- HUD and Local Agencies: Responsible for program oversight, funding distribution, and coordination with child welfare systems.
- Kinship Navigator Programs: Involved in partnerships for support and outreach.
- Victims of Domestic Violence: Gain added protections under VAWA for housing stability.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces fair housing by mandating compliance with the Fair Housing Act, preventing discrimination against families with children. VAWA expansion ensures constitutional due process and equal protection for vulnerable residents by safeguarding against housing disruptions due to abuse.
- Constitutional: Aligns with equal protection principles under the 14th Amendment by supporting non-traditional family structures without favoring specific groups.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan interest in family support and child welfare, potentially influencing future housing policies. The two-year report could lead to expansions or adjustments based on program outcomes, highlighting fiscal accountability in federal spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-04: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-11-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Grandfamily Housing Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-04 — PDF (5 pages)