Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5990
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-07: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-19T13:21:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025 (H.R. 5990) Summary
Purpose
This legislation directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to create a pilot program that awards grants to implementing organizations. These organizations would then run whole-home repairs programs, offering grants to eligible low-income homeowners and loans (which may be forgivable) to eligible small landlords for repairs addressing accessibility, safety, habitability, and energy efficiency.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes terms including "eligible homeowner" (household income at or below 80% of area median income or qualifying for specified public benefits, with ownership interest and principal residence), "eligible landlord" (owns fewer than 10 rental properties, mostly affordable units), "affordable unit" (rent not exceeding 30% of income for those at or below 80% area median income), "whole-home repairs" (modifications for disability access, safety, or efficiency), and "implementing organization" (state, local government, or qualified nonprofit).
- Pilot Program Establishment: Requires the Secretary to launch the program within one year of enactment, awarding grants to 2–10 implementing organizations per year (no more than one per state), with priority for broad geographic coverage including rural areas.
- Fund Use:
- Grants to homeowners for repairs not covered by other federal programs, with amounts adjusted for local costs.
- Loans to landlords for repairs on affordable units, common areas, or structures; loans may be forgiven after three years of compliance.
- Limits: Up to 5% for workforce training, 10% for administration; must coordinate with other federal programs to avoid duplication.
- Landlord Requirements: Loan agreements mandate accessibility compliance, lease extensions or affordability maintenance for three years, rent caps at 5% or inflation (whichever is lower), and code compliance.
- Application and Selection: Requires plans for geographic scope, subrecipient selection, program coordination, and data on housing needs; awards emphasize diverse urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal coverage.
- Reporting: Annual reports on units served, costs, demographics, compliance, and anti-fraud measures; alignment with existing program reporting; Inspector General assessments; annual summary to Congress.
- Funding and Termination: Up to $30 million from Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes accounts; program ends October 1, 2031; treated as special project for environmental review.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, time-limited pilot program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development without directly amending core existing statutes. It builds on frameworks from programs like Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnerships by adding coordination requirements and new grant/loan mechanisms for whole-home repairs, while imposing specific affordability and accessibility conditions not previously standardized in this manner.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HUD gains authority to administer the pilot, including funding allocation, oversight, and reporting; encourages cross-agency collaboration with Departments of Energy and Agriculture.
- Citizens: Provides repair assistance to low-income homeowners and tenants in small rental properties, potentially improving housing quality, accessibility, and efficiency; landlords face compliance obligations for rent stability.
- International Relations: No provisions affect international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible low-income homeowners and their households.
- Eligible small landlords owning affordable rental properties.
- Implementing organizations, including state/local governments, tribally designated housing entities, and qualified nonprofits with prior experience in housing programs.
- Tenants in assisted rental units.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development and its Office of Inspector General.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Requires compliance with federal accessibility standards under the Rehabilitation Act and fair housing laws.
- Mandates environmental reviews under existing regulations for special projects.
- Emphasizes anti-fraud policies and income verification streamlining to reduce administrative burdens.
- No apparent constitutional conflicts; focuses on domestic housing policy with emphasis on equitable geographic distribution.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-07: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-11-07: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-07 — PDF (25 pages)