On July 11th, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (ROAD) became law. A collection of dozens of provisions spanning multiple housing concerns, ROAD is the first bipartisan, bicameral affordable housing package in over 30 years.
The Housing Subcommittee of the Domestic Human Needs Coalition (DHN) has been pushing for such a package since the beginning of the 119th Congress. In 2025, the DHN Housing Subcommittee wrote to leadership on both the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Financial Services Committee to support the inclusion of ROAD in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). When ROAD was not included in the 2025 NDAA, the subcommittee committed to making passage of ROAD a key priority in 2026.
In pushing for a comprehensive housing package, DHN expressed the need to include provisions concerning housing supply, disaster response reform, serving the nation’s disabled veterans, home repair loans, and more. Throughout ROAD's legislative process, DHN met with Congressional staff, convened faith-based, secular, and interfaith partners, brought in constituents, and more, to ensure these priorities were met.
With many of these provisions included in ROAD, DHN has expressed great appreciation to Congress for working toward the passage of this bill. Read our letter to Congress here.
"We believe every person has inherent worth and therefore deserves safe, secure, and affordable housing. The passage of this comprehensive bipartisan legislation is a major milestone in meeting the housing needs of our marginalized neighbors. We celebrate the progress and look forward to building on it with lawmakers so that all people, especially those in vulnerable situations, are afforded the basic human right of housing. In the words of the founder of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, St. Mary Euphrasia, we encourage policymakers to ‘Keep alive within you and bring under wise control that courage which makes you long to undertake great works, which others might consider it folly to attempt.’”
Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
What is in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act?
From the National Low Income Housing Association, ROAD is “a broad, bipartisanhousing package aimed at addressing the national affordable housing shortage. The bill includes 59 provisions related to housing supply, disaster recovery, manufactured housing, mortgage financing, rural housing, veterans’ housing, public housing, and community banking.”
Of DHN’s priorities, the following provisions stand out:
- Sec. 405 – the Choice in Affordable Housing Act. This provision will reduce delays in HUD inspections for affordable housing units in certain federal programs, such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). Units will pass inspection more quickly, housing opportunities will expand for voucher holders, and greater landlord participation in these programs will be incentivized.
- Sec. 502 – the Rural Service Reform Act. This provision will make needed changes to the USDA Rural Housing Service program by increasing home repair grant limits, permanently authorizing key rural housing initiatives, and more, all for rural residents.
- Sec. 504 – the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act. The inclusion of this act authorizes the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program for three years and makes significant changes to the program to assist households in the wake of disasters.
- Sec. 602 – Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act. This provision excludes veteran disability benefits from determining eligibility for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, meaning more veterans will have access to the program.
DHN sent a letter to members of Congress thanking them for passing ROAD and expressing appreciation for the inclusion of many of our priorities. See these resources from the Bipartisan Policy Center and the National Low Income Housing Coalition to learn more about ROAD.
"NETWORK Lobby is grateful for the bipartisan coalition that carried the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into law. Catholic Social Teaching, with its preferential option for the poor and its call to subsidiarity, guided every step of our advocacy, and this legislation reflects those principles. The legislation will lift the most vulnerable, empower local innovation to provide housing, and strengthen community engagement.”
Jarrett Smith, Senior Government Relations Manager
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice.
What's Next?
While we celebrate this momentous and historic win, we recognize there is still a long way to go to ensure the protection and funding for many housing programs in the future.
DHN continues to advocate for robust funding in the appropriations process. While Congress considers a continuing resolution to fund the government through early December, FY27 funding levels are still being negotiated. The House-passed FY27 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill reduces overall spending by $4.1 billion compared to FY26 yet remains about $6.6 billion above the President’s budget request. The Senate has yet to introduce its FY27 THUD bill. Considering that some of the ROAD provisions will need continued appropriations funding, DHN will monitor the implementation and rulemaking regarding the various elements of the new law.
Additionally, where applicable, DHN will monitor the implementation of these programs, especially as they proceed through agency rulemaking. DHN will focus on ensuring that agencies in charge of the various programs establish efficient, equitable, and timely programs, meaning that the provisions
passed in ROAD will reach those who need them most.
As we keep pushing for equitable and affordable housing in the U.S., we celebrate the passage of ROAD and continue to look toward the future.
“Across our faith traditions, we affirm that housing is a basic human right. Our vision for this country includes, ‘every person and every family in America deserves a quality home in a safe neighborhood. No family should spend more than one-quarter of their income on housing. No person should be priced out of a dignified place to live.’ This bill is a step toward that reality and a reminder of what is possible when lawmakers work together for the common good.”
Faith in Action National Network