Housing BOOM Act

Bill Number

S. 3464

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Housing and Community Development

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Last Updated

2026-01-08T17:23:44Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Housing Building Occupancy Opportunities for Millions Act (Housing BOOM Act) aims to address the U.S. housing crisis by increasing the supply of affordable housing, reducing homelessness, supporting tenants at risk of eviction, and promoting fair access to housing programs. It focuses on boosting construction and funding for various housing initiatives while incorporating labor standards to ensure fair wages and workforce training.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into four titles, each targeting specific aspects of housing policy:

• Title I: Boosting the Housing Supply
• Increases the state housing credit ceiling under the Internal Revenue Code from 1.12 to 3.36 times the national average, effective for allocations after December 31, 2025 (Sec. 101).
• Establishes the Middle Income Housing Construction Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans for rental housing or adaptive reuse targeting households earning 60-120% of area median income (AMI), with priority for high-cost areas (Sec. 102; $10 million authorized annually, FY 2026-2030).
• Creates a Workforce Housing Block Grant Program for states to develop rental housing for households earning up to 120% AMI, prioritizing high-cost and opportunity-rich areas; requires equity-based plans addressing segregation and shortages (Sec. 103; $5 billion authorized annually, FY 2026-2030).
• Launches the Housing Accelerator Program for gap financing of ready-to-build affordable projects, requiring 30-year affordability covenants and at least 20-40% of units for low-income households (Sec. 104; $1 billion authorized annually, FY 2026-2030).
• Increases funding for existing programs, including:
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program: $4.2 billion annually (Sec. 105).
• HOME Investments Partnership Program: $1.5 billion annually, plus $500 million for childcare facilities (Sec. 106).
• Disaster recovery and climate resiliency grants under CDBG: $1 billion annually (Sec. 107).
• USDA rural housing: $70 million annually for Section 515 rentals (Sec. 108).
• Indian Housing Block Grants: $200 million annually (Sec. 109).
• Supportive housing for elderly: $1.646 billion annually (Sec. 110).
• Supportive housing for persons with disabilities: $360 million annually (Sec. 111).
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS: $600 million annually, plus $500 million for HIV initiatives (Sec. 112).
• Provides grants for converting hotels, motels, or blighted properties into emergency/transitional housing for the homeless ($250 million annually; Sec. 113).
• Establishes grants for converting state/local government buildings into affordable rental housing with 20-40% low-income units (Sec. 114; $750 million annually).
• Many provisions mandate prevailing wage requirements (under the Davis-Bacon Act, ensuring workers receive local standard wages) and apprenticeship rules (at least 15% of construction labor hours by qualified apprentices in registered programs, with penalties or good-faith exceptions).

• Title II: Combating Homelessness
• Boosts funding for homelessness assistance and supportive services under the McKinney-Vento Act: $3.75 billion for emergency solutions and $4.45 billion for Continuum of Care programs annually (Sec. 201).
• Creates a SAMHSA Center for Unhoused Individuals to coordinate mental and behavioral health services for homeless people, including grants for treatment, harm reduction, and housing support ($10 million for the Center; $1 billion for grants annually, FY 2026-2030; Sec. 202). Includes prevailing wage and apprenticeship for related construction.

• Title III: Providing Tenant Support
• Authorizes 1 million additional tenant-based rental assistance vouchers (Section 8) from FY 2026-2035 (Sec. 301).
• Funds grants for housing navigators (nonprofits, associations, or governments) to educate and assist with enrollment in housing programs, emphasizing culturally appropriate outreach ($50 million annually; Sec. 302).
• Establishes the Office of Eviction Prevention within HUD to administer grants, build an eviction database, coordinate anti-eviction strategies, and collaborate with agencies; transfers existing Eviction Protection Grant Program to this office ($100 million annually for grants and office operations; Sec. 303).

• Title IV: Ensuring Fair Housing
• Creates the Interagency Council on Housing Affordability and Preservation, involving 21 federal agencies to develop a National Strategic Plan, monitor programs, provide technical assistance, and report annually on affordable housing efforts ($4.8 million annually; Sec. 401).
• Requires HUD to issue a Language Access Plan within 180 days of a new President's inauguration, improving access for limited English proficiency individuals through translation, outreach, and training (Sec. 402).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Funding Increases: Dramatically raises authorizations for longstanding programs (e.g., low-income housing tax credit ceiling triples; CDBG funding more than doubles from prior levels; Section 8 vouchers expand by 1 million over a decade).
• New Programs and Structures: Introduces funds like the Middle Income Housing Construction Loan Fund and Workforce Housing Block Grants; establishes new entities such as the Housing Accelerator Program, SAMHSA Center, Office of Eviction Prevention, and Interagency Council.
• Labor Mandates: Applies Davis-Bacon prevailing wage and 15% apprenticeship requirements to most new construction/rehabilitation under the bill, extending them to programs like HOME, HOPWA, and McKinney-Vento where not previously required.
• Amendments to Key Laws: Modifies the Internal Revenue Code, Housing and Community Development Act, Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, McKinney-Vento Act, and Public Health Service Act to incorporate these changes and funding.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: HUD and USDA will manage expanded programs, requiring more staff and coordination; the Interagency Council fosters cross-agency collaboration. States and localities gain block grants but must submit plans and reports, increasing administrative burdens.
• Citizens: Low- and moderate-income households (up to 120% AMI) benefit from more affordable units, vouchers, and anti-eviction support, potentially reducing housing costs and homelessness. Homeless individuals and those with disabilities/mental health needs gain targeted services. Construction workers see wage protections and training opportunities.
• International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill is domestic-focused.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Low-Income and Vulnerable Populations: Renters earning up to 120% AMI, homeless individuals, elderly, disabled persons, those with AIDS, and limited English proficiency groups.
• Government Entities: States, local governments, public housing agencies, and tribes receiving grants and required to prioritize equity and reporting.
• Nonprofits and Developers: Eligible for loans, grants, and conversions; must comply with affordability and labor rules.
• Labor and Workforce: Construction workers, apprentices, and unions benefiting from wage and training mandates.
• Federal Agencies: HUD (lead role), SAMHSA, USDA, and others via the Interagency Council.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Enforces labor standards (Davis-Bacon and apprenticeships) across programs, potentially increasing project costs but ensuring worker protections; requires competitive allocations and reporting to promote accountability. The eviction database must safeguard personal data privacy.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I; promotes equal protection by addressing segregation and fair housing, without apparent conflicts.
• Political: Represents a significant federal investment (total authorizations exceed $20 billion annually) to tackle housing shortages, appealing to urban/rural needs and equity goals; may spark debates on federal overreach in local zoning/housing or labor requirements raising costs. The bill encourages state-level plans, fostering bipartisan local-federal partnerships.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
• 2025-12-11: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Housing Building Occupancy Opportunities for Millions Act — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (90 pages)