Bipartisan Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Leaders Highlight Proposed Major Reforms to Top Federal Housing Program
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) and Mike Flood (NE-01), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, hosted a press conference to highlight historic reforms they have introduced in the HOME Reform Act of 2025. The legislation marks the first major reforms to the HOME program since it was first authorized in 1990, streamlining regulations to strengthen public-private partnerships to encourage the building of more housing and rental properties in efforts to bring down the cost of housing.
The bipartisan bill was introduced following a stakeholder input process conducted earlier this year. Details about the legislation are available here.
“From the heartland to the coasts, hardworking families continue to struggle with the high cost of housing—and it is imperative that Congress take strong, comprehensive, and bipartisan action to boost the construction of affordable housing across the country,” said Ranking Member Cleaver (D-MO). “With overwhelming support from housing stakeholders, our HOME Reform Act takes major steps toward cutting the unnecessary red tape and strengthening public-private partnerships that will incentivize the development of affordable housing in communities nationwide. I’m proud to stand with Chairman Flood as we fight to lower housing costs, and I hope that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress will join us in this important effort.”
“America is in the midst of a housing shortage as families struggle to live the American dream due to the lack of millions of homes,” said Chairman Flood (R-NE). “The HOME program is a federal program that builds housing supply, but it has been weighed down by regulatory burdens that make it hard to build housing. The HOME Reform Act of 2025 will cut the red tape that has been holding this program back. Dozens of stakeholders are throwing their support behind these reforms, building momentum to tackle our nation’s housing shortage. From Columbus, Nebraska to Columbus, Ohio and beyond, the HOME Reform Act of 2025 gives local communities an unprecedented opportunity to build affordable homes and directly address the housing crisis gripping our nation. Thanks to my colleague Rep. Cleaver, and I look forward to working to pass this legislation with broad bipartisan support."
The HOME Reform Act represents the first major reform to the program since its authorization in 1990 as part of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. The legislation provides greater flexibility for states and localities, cuts red tape, and supports the development and preservation of affordable housing.
The HOME Reform Act is the result of a bipartisan effort kickstarted by Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver earlier this year to develop meaningful solutions to the housing crisis in America. In April, Congressman Cleaver and Congressman Flood released a joint request for feedback on the HOME and CDBG programs. In July, the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee held a hearing entitled, “HOME 2.0: Modern Solutions to the Housing Shortage.”
What Stakeholders Are Saying:
“The HOME Investment Partnerships Program is an important source of financing for affordable housing, often used in conjunction with the recently expanded Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,” said Emily Cadik, Chief Executive Officer of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. “We applaud Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver for working together on these commonsense, bipartisan proposals to make the HOME program more efficient and effective, at a time when there is such an urgent need to increase affordable housing supply.”
“The HOME Reform Act of 2025 strengthens a vital federal program that communities use to develop and preserve supportive housing. These improvements to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program will help ensure that people with disabilities and complex health needs have access to stable, affordable homes paired with the services that support housing success. We commend Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver for their bipartisan leadership in advancing practical reforms that reduce development barriers, improve infrastructure, and expand housing options in communities across the country. CSH is proud to support this legislation and its commitment to building stronger housing systems,” said Deb De Santis, President and CEO, Corporation for Supportive Housing.
“COSCDA applauds Congressman Flood and Congressman Cleaver for the introduction of the HOME Reform Act of 2025, a bill that would modernize the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and spur the development of affordable housing supply. This bipartisan bill addresses many of the barriers identified by HOME stakeholders by streamlining over-burdensome requirements and making common-sense improvements. COSCDA’s state HOME grantees urge Congress to pass this bill, marking the HOME program’s first modernization since its passage in the 1990s,” said Tess Hembree, Executive Director, Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA).
“HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program is the largest federal housing block grant. It’s time for Congress to modernize and streamline the program as our nation is facing a record shortage of starter homes pushing homeownership out of reach for millions of families and essential workers nationwide,” said Chris Vincent, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy at Habitat for Humanity International. “We applaud Representatives Mike Flood and Emanuel Cleaver for leading this bipartisan effort to ease regulatory burdens and strengthen the programs use and effectiveness in building more affordable homes, especially for homeownership.”
“As a Network of mission-driven housing developers and lenders that use the HOME program to reduce housing costs for households all across the country, HPN applauds and supports the introduction of the bipartisan HOME Reform Act. This is common sense legislation that reduces red tape, makes the HOME program easier to use and maintains a strong focus on people in need,” said Robin Hughes, CEO, Housing Partnership Network.
"Lincoln Avenue Communities is pleased to support the HOME Reform Act of 2025. As the nation faces an unprecedented affordable housing crisis, this legislation proposes crucial changes to modernize the HOME Program and expand its impact. It creates new programmatic efficiencies that will empower local communities to help finance affordable housing where it is needed most. We urge Congress to enact this critical legislation as soon as possible,” said Thom Amdur, Senior Vice President for Policy & Impact, Lincoln Avenue Communities.
“The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) applauds Representatives Cleaver and Flood for their leadership in introducing the HOME Reform Act of 2025. The HOME Program is our nation’s only federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create and preserve affordable housing for low-income households. It’s often utilized as critical gap financing for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit developments” said Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President of Policy, LISC. “The HOME Reform Act will modernize the program, making it easier to utilize, which will ultimately decrease projects costs and increase affordable housing opportunities for families.”
“The Mortgage Bankers Association commends Congressmen Mike Flood (R-NE) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) for proposing important reforms to the HOME Act that will bring more affordable housing supply to market,” said Bill Killmer, senior vice president of legislative and political affairs at Mortgage Bankers Association. “MBA supports policies that streamline development, reduce regulatory burdens, and expand access to sustainable housing options for consumers.”
“The housing undersupply crisis impacts nearly every community across our country, and there’s never been a more pressing need for decisive and bipartisan action from Congress,” said National Apartment Association (NAA) President & CEO Bob Pinnegar. “NAA applauds Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.-1) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-5) for their steadfast leadership in introducing the HOME Reform Act. This legislation rightly places an important emphasis on reducing regulatory burdens and would ultimately help increase critically needed housing supply and ease longstanding affordability challenges for Americans nationwide.”
“NAHB applauds Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) for introducing bipartisan legislation that makes much needed reforms to the HOME program. The HOME Reform Act of 2025 will improve this critical block grant program designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. The legislation increases opportunities for homeownership by expanding HOME to include workforce housing and relieves regulatory burdens on home builders and housing providers to enable them to construct more attainable, affordable housing,” said Buddy Hughes, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.
"NAR strongly supports the HOME Reform Act and thanks Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver for their bipartisan leadership in modernizing a program that hasn't been updated in decades," said National Association of Realtors Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn. "By cutting red tape and giving communities more flexibility, these reforms will unlock housing production and open doors to homeownership for more first-time buyers."
"America’s affordable housing crisis is made worse by federal rules that slow down construction and increase costs. The National Community Development Association supports the HOME Reform Act of 2025, which simplifies regulations and gives administrators more flexibility to deliver affordable housing faster,” said Vicki Watson, Executive Director, National Community Development Association (NCDA).
“The HOME program is critical to the production and preservation of affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in rural, urban, and suburban communities. It also provides states and local participating jurisdictions with much-needed flexibility to meet their unique housing needs. Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver’s HOME Reform Act makes meaningful reforms to the program that promote flexibility, streamline program requirements and regulations, and reduce barriers to entry. This proposal will reduce costs, promote affordable housing development and preservation, and support more homebuyers and renters. NHC looks forward to working with Congress to advance this legislation,” said David M. Dworkin, President and CEO of the National Housing Conference.
“NMHC applauds the tremendous work that Chaiman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver have undertaken to streamline and strengthen the HOME program. Today’s legislation will make this critical program more effective and efficient in addressing our nation's housing supply shortage and reducing the cost of housing. We look forward to working with Congress on enacting this and other legislation that will help realize our goal of ensuring that all Americans have a safe and decent place to call home at a price they can afford,” said Sharon Wilson Géno, National Multifamily Housing Council President.
“The National NeighborWorks Association applauds Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver for their thoughtful, bipartisan leadership on the HOME Reform Act of 2025,” said Lou Tisler, Executive Director of National NeighborWorks Association. “This legislation will help unlock the full potential of the HOME program through much-needed streamlining and common-sense reforms. The 250 NeighborWorks-chartered organizations across the country are on the front lines of America’s housing crisis, and these reforms will enable them to use HOME resources more effectively— building more affordable supply and helping more families achieve the dream of homeownership.”
“America’s housing affordability crisis has reached a breaking point, and the HOME Reform Act of 2025 rises to meet it,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth. “This bill will make it easier for public and private partners to work together to build more affordable homes and ensures program funds support the infrastructure that communities, especially those long overlooked, need to meet their housing needs. With the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver, Congress has a clear opportunity to help communities across the country deliver affordable homes, expand pathways to ownership, and open doors of opportunity for individuals and families nationwide.”
The HOME Reform Act is endorsed by Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, American Planning Association (APA), Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA), Community Opportunity Alliance, Enterprise Community Partners, Fahe, Habitat for Humanity International, Housing Partnership Network (HPN), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Lincoln Avenue Communities, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), National Apartment Association (NAA), National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL), National Association of County Community and Economic Development (NACCED), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), National Association of Realtors (NAR), National Community Development Association (NCDA), National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), National Housing Conference (NHC), National Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NH&RA), National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), National NeighborWorks Association (NNA), Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF), Up for Growth and the US Conference of Mayors.
Official text of the HOME Reform Act is available here.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.