Housing costs

Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a five-year pilot program under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) through which FEMA contracts to provide factory-built housing to serve disaster survivors until the disaster declaration terminates and then be utilized for affordable housing. It also authorizes FEMA to provide IHP grants for closing costs associated with obtaining certain mortgages.

Specifically, FEMA must enter into a contract with a producer or seller of manufactured or modular homes to construct such housing as a type of temporary housing assistance under IHP. The bill requires the housing to meet specified criteria, including that it must be available within 90 days (unless extended to 120 days) after the disaster declaration, have no more than four units, and provide a minimum level of protection from natural hazards. The housing must conform to various specified standards, but the bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development to waive any such requirement for construction under the pilot program.

Also, the bill requires FEMA to establish guidelines for transferring the housing to an affordable housing program after the termination of the relevant disaster declaration. However, the bill also authorizes it to become permanent housing after the declaration terminates.

In addition, the bill authorizes FEMA to provide IHP grants to disaster-impacted individuals or households purchasing residential property for closing costs associated with obtaining a mortgage from a federal program providing affordable financing options.

Housing Affordability Act

This bill increases the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA's) multifamily housing loan limits for mortgage insurance and requires the use of a more specific inflation index for these limits.

Specifically, the bill increases the loan limits to qualify for FHA mortgage insurance for rental housing, cooperative housing, rehabilitation and neighborhood conservation housing, housing for moderate income and displaced families, housing for elderly persons, and condominiums, and it requires these limits to be indexed to the Price Deflator Index of Multifamily Residential Units Under Construction released by the Bureau of the Census. Currently, these limits are indexed to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

Landlord Accountability Act of 2025

This bill prohibits housing discrimination based on income, provides protections to tenants of certain federally assisted housing, and establishes a low-income housing maintenance tax credit for eligible landlords.

Specifically, the bill prohibits discrimination in rental housing and residential real estate transactions based on an individual's source of income and provides for penalties. Protected income sources include

• housing vouchers and rental assistance,

• rental and homeownership subsidies,

• Social Security and disability income assistance, and

• spousal and child support.

Additionally, landlords are prohibited from taking or failing to take certain actions with the intent to make a unit ineligible to receive Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance. Landlords that violate this prohibition are subject to penalties and may be sued by harmed tenants. The bill further prohibits property owners of certain multifamily housing projects from intentionally leaving a unit vacant for more than 60 days. Property owners that violate this prohibition are subject to penalties.

The bill also provides protections to tenants of multifamily housing projects, which includes requiring HUD to increase the staffing level for the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line and create a Multifamily Housing Complaint Resolution Program.

In addition, HUD may provide grants to develop, expand, and assist tenant harassment prevention programs.

Finally, the bill establishes a tax credit for qualifying landlords that is equal to the landlord's annual low-income housing maintenance expenses. To qualify, a landlord must have addressed within 30 days any relevant complaints filed under the complaint resolution program.

FEMA Temporary Housing Assistance Improvement Act

This bill enables individuals or households to receive temporary housing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following a disaster (i.e., funds for renting housing or housing provided by FEMA) regardless of the recipient’s insurance status.

Under current law, in determining whether an individual or household is eligible for temporary housing assistance, FEMA generally must determine whether the applicant has insurance that will cover those same expenses, to avoid a duplication of benefits. The bill prohibits FEMA from considering insurance a duplication of benefits when determining an individual or household’s eligibility for temporary housing assistance, removing the need for FEMA to determine insurance coverage prior to providing the assistance.