Housing For All Act Proposes Billions: Aims to Expand Vouchers, Fund Shelters, and Tackle Shortages

This bill, the "Housing for All Act of 2025," represents a major federal push to tackle both the lack of affordable housing and the ongoing homelessness crisis. It proposes injecting tens of billions of dollars annually over the next decade into existing housing support systems like the Housing Trust Fund ($45 billion per year through 2034) and programs for seniors and people with disabilities. The core idea is to significantly increase the supply of affordable places to live while also expanding direct help for people struggling to find or keep a roof over their heads.

More Fuel for Proven Programs

The Act significantly boosts funding for several established federal housing programs. The Housing Trust Fund, which helps states build and preserve rentals for extremely low-income households, would receive a massive $45 billion annual authorization for ten years (Sec. 101). There's also substantial funding proposed for supportive housing programs: $2.5 billion for Section 202 housing for the elderly (Sec. 102) and $900 million for Section 811 housing for people with disabilities (Sec. 103), both aimed at creating independent living options with necessary services. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a flexible block grant for state and local affordable housing efforts, is slated for $40 billion (Sec. 104). Additionally, the bill funds technical assistance to help states better navigate and coordinate these various funding streams (Sec. 105), aiming for more efficient use of resources.

A Bigger Push on Homelessness

A centerpiece of the bill is a dramatic expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program (Sec. 201). It authorizes funding for 500,000 new vouchers in 2025, ramping up to 1 million new vouchers annually from 2026 through 2028, targeting households with extremely low incomes or receiving SSI. Crucially, the bill states that five years after enactment, any eligible family is entitled to voucher assistance, potentially shifting it from a limited resource to a guaranteed safety net. The bill also invests heavily in other homelessness solutions: $14.5 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance (Sec. 202) to create affordable units tied to specific properties, $5 billion for the Emergency Solutions Grant program (Sec. 203) supporting shelters and outreach, and $15 billion for the Continuum of Care program (Sec. 204) focused on permanent housing solutions, prioritizing those with disabilities and coordinating with systems like justice and healthcare to prevent homelessness upon release.

Fresh Ideas for Tough Problems

Beyond expanding existing programs, the Act introduces several new grant initiatives aimed at community-driven solutions. A Safe Parking Program (Sec. 301) would offer $25 million annually for five years in grants (capped at $5M per entity) to provide secure overnight parking and rehousing services for people living in vehicles. Another $500 million is authorized to help acquire and convert hotels, motels, or commercial properties into permanent supportive housing (Sec. 302). Recognizing eviction as a major driver of homelessness, an $800 million Eviction Protection Grant Program (Sec. 303) aims to fund free legal aid for low-income tenants. The bill also proposes grants for Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams ($50 million annually for 10 years, Sec. 304) as an alternative to law enforcement for certain situations involving homelessness, and pilot grants for libraries ($10 million annually for 10 years, Sec. 305) to connect people with resources. Finally, it establishes grants ($20 million annually for 6 years, Sec. 309) to improve coordination between healthcare and homelessness services for those with behavioral health challenges.

Connecting the Dots: Equity, Data, and Smarter Growth

The legislation includes several provisions looking at the bigger picture. It would make the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness permanent and establish a Commission on Racial Equity in Housing (Sec. 106) to research and address disparities. A required GAO report (Sec. 206) would delve into eviction data, particularly focusing on the pandemic moratoriums and disproportionate impacts on certain groups. The bill also encourages smarter growth by requiring HUD to report on promoting infill development near transit (Sec. 306) and making such projects eligible for RAISE grants and Carbon Reduction Program funds (Sec. 307, 308), aiming to reduce emissions and improve access to jobs and amenities. These elements suggest an effort to not only provide immediate relief but also to understand systemic issues and promote more sustainable, equitable housing and community development.