The Build Homes, Not Hate Act of 2026 establishes a $70 billion FEMA grant program to expand affordable housing and homelessness services, funded by reallocating resources from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Representative
FL-25
The Build Homes, Not Hate Act of 2026 establishes a $70 billion FEMA grant program dedicated to expanding affordable housing and providing critical homelessness support services. By prioritizing communities with the highest rates of housing instability, the bill funds construction, rehabilitation, and comprehensive social services. These investments are fully offset by reallocating $70 billion from existing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) balances, with a strict prohibition on using any grant funds for immigration enforcement activities.
New Housing Act Redirects $70 Billion to Build Homes and Fight Homelessness Starting in 2027
The 'Build Homes, Not Hate Act of 2026' proposes a massive shift in federal spending, moving $70 billion away from immigration enforcement to fund a nationwide housing surge. Managed by FEMA, the program aims to tackle the rent crisis and homelessness by flooding the market with new units and support services. The bill specifically targets communities where rent is skyrocketing or where chronic homelessness has become a visible, daily reality. By fiscal year 2027, this money is intended to hit the ground, with a five-year window to get projects completed.
Turning Offices into Apartments
The bill carves out at least $54 billion specifically for creating new places to live. This isn't just about traditional apartment buildings; it explicitly allows for converting vacant office buildings, hotels, and motels into housing. If you're a commuter in a city where downtown office towers have sat half-empty for years, this provision (Section 2) could mean those buildings finally turn into neighbors and customers for local shops. The funding also covers modular and manufactured housing, which can often be built faster and cheaper than standard construction, potentially speeding up the timeline for when you might actually see new listings on the market.
More Than Just a Roof
Recognizing that homelessness often involves more than just a lack of keys, the bill earmarks $14 billion for 'wraparound' services. This means if a local nonprofit in your town gets a grant, they can use it for everything from rental assistance and emergency shelters to mental health support and job training. For a veteran struggling to find work or a family fleeing domestic violence, these funds are designed to provide the 'housing navigation' and case management needed to stay off the streets long-term. Under Section 2, the federal government can cover 100% of these costs, meaning cash-strapped local towns don't have to worry about coming up with a 'match' to get the help they need.
The Trade-Off and the Fine Print
To pay for this, the bill permanently takes $70 billion back from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funds that haven't been spent yet. While this avoids adding to the national debt, it represents a major policy pivot that would likely scale back ICE's operational capacity in areas like detention and surveillance. Additionally, while the bill is clear about its goals, it gives the FEMA Administrator a lot of 'vague authority' on how to actually pick the winners. Grants can be awarded through competition or formulas, and with $70 billion on the table, the lack of a strict, line-by-line distribution plan in the text means the actual impact on your specific neighborhood will depend heavily on how FEMA writes the rulebook over the next year.