The Recovery First Housing Act requires organizations that receive federal funds for emergency shelter, transitional housing, or permanent housing to offer substance use disorder treatment to every adult admitted to their programs. This mandate applies to project sponsors operating under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and includes various levels of care, such as medically supervised withdrawal management, residential treatment, and outpatient services. The bill defines step-down treatment as a structured process for transitioning individuals from intensive care to community-based services. An exception is included for unaccompanied minors, who are not subject to this specific treatment requirement.
The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2026 creates a new competitive grant program that provides up to 50,000 additional housing vouchers each year from fiscal years 2027 through 2032. These vouchers are specifically designated for families with young children or those expecting a child who are currently homeless, unstably housed, living in areas of concentrated poverty, or at risk of displacement from high-opportunity neighborhoods. Public housing agencies must offer voluntary mobility services to help these families move into "opportunity areas" that provide access to high-performing schools and quality early education. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is tasked with defining what constitutes an opportunity area and establishing the minimum standards for the supportive services that agencies must provide to participating families.
The No Homeless Detention Centers Act prohibits recipients of federal housing funds from forcing homeless individuals to live in government facilities or requiring them to perform labor in exchange for shelter. The bill also bans local and state authorities from punishing people for engaging in basic life-sustaining activities, such as sleeping or resting, on public property. These restrictions apply to actions taken by law enforcement officers or private contractors acting under federal authority. By tying these prohibitions to federal funding, the legislation aims to prevent the use of criminal penalties or involuntary confinement to address homelessness.
The Veterans Housing Opportunity Act establishes a five-year pilot program that allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development to identify public housing agencies that are not effectively using their HUD-VASH vouchers. If an agency is found to be chronically underutilizing these funds, the department may take back the unused voucher assistance and redistribute it to other agencies. These reallocated vouchers must then be provided to veterans who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The bill requires the department to report on the program's efficiency and housing outcomes after three years, while ensuring that any veteran who receives a voucher under this pilot keeps it even if the pilot program ends.
The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026 reauthorizes federal housing assistance for Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians through fiscal year 2033 while expanding eligibility to include families with incomes up to 120 percent of the area median. The bill grants tribes greater autonomy by allowing them to set their own rent, procurement, and environmental review policies, and it streamlines regulatory processes by consolidating environmental reviews and exempting certain small-scale projects from specific federal requirements. Additionally, the legislation establishes new grant programs for homeless American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, creates a rental assistance program for homeless Indian veterans, and extends leasehold interests on trust lands to 99 years to improve financing options.
The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026 amends the Higher Education Act to provide specific protections and support services for homeless and foster care youth. The bill requires colleges to designate trained staff liaisons to assist these students with accessing financial aid, housing, and other essential resources, while also mandating that institutions offer priority access to on-campus housing during breaks. Additionally, the legislation expands eligibility for in-state tuition rates at public universities for both homeless and foster care youth and updates Federal TRIO programs to require outreach and barrier removal for these populations. The act also establishes new reporting requirements to track the number of homeless and foster youth served and mandates annual training for university staff.
The MAIL Act allows unhoused or housing-unstable individuals with low incomes who receive specific federal assistance to rent free post office boxes. To qualify, eligible people must submit proof of their status, such as enrollment in Medicaid or participation in food assistance programs, to their local postmaster. The law requires the United States Postal Service to issue regulations for this program within a year and authorizes the agency to buy and maintain the necessary boxes. To cover the cost of lost rental fees and the expense of providing these boxes, the bill directs Congress to appropriate funds to the Postal Service annually. The Postmaster General must also submit an implementation plan within six months and provide progress reports every five years to Congress.
The Build Homes, Not Hate Act of 2026 directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a grant program aimed at reducing homelessness by funding new and existing housing units, emergency shelters, and support services for individuals and families. The legislation appropriates $70 billion for these efforts, allocating at least $54 billion for housing construction and rehabilitation, while reserving $14 billion for direct services like rental assistance, behavioral health support, and job training. Funds may be used for various housing solutions, including modular homes and converting vacant buildings, with a preference for areas experiencing high rates of unsheltered homelessness or rising rent costs. A specific provision prohibits the use of any funds from this program for immigration enforcement, detention, or border wall construction. Additionally, the bill permanently rescinds $70 billion previously designated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to finance this new housing initiative.
The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026 expands federal protections and support services for homeless and foster care students in higher education. It requires colleges to designate trained staff liaisons to assist these students with accessing resources like housing, food, and financial aid, while also mandating that institutions provide priority access to on-campus housing for this population. The bill further updates various federal student aid programs to explicitly include homeless and foster youth, ensuring they are treated as independent students for financial aid purposes and are actively recruited and retained through targeted outreach. Additionally, the legislation establishes new reporting requirements for colleges to track the number of these students served and mandates that states offer in-state tuition rates to homeless and foster youth attending public institutions.
The DASH Act aims to expand affordable housing options for low-income individuals, homeless persons, and first-time homebuyers by creating new federal programs and modifying existing tax laws. A primary component is the creation of 250,000 new rental vouchers in 2026 for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, which includes funding for supportive services like healthcare and job training, as well as requirements for public housing agencies to prioritize youth and families. The bill also establishes a modular construction pilot program to lower building costs, a grant system to reward local governments that adopt zoning rules allowing denser housing like duplexes and accessory dwelling units, and a new tax credit to help low-income families purchase starter homes in distressed communities. Additionally, the legislation introduces a new refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers, expands tax incentives for middle-income housing, and makes several adjustments to how homeowners can deduct losses or handle debt discharges related to their principal residences.
