H.R. 3133: Housing Accessibility and Voucher Expansion Now Act

This bill, known as the Housing Accessibility and Voucher Expansion Now Act (HAVEN Act), aims to amend several key Acts related to housing in the United States to expand rental assistance and improve housing accessibility. The main components of the bill are summarized below:

1. Changes to Rental Payment Calculations

The bill proposes to adjust the calculation of rental payments for certain federal rental assistance programs. Specifically, it aims to lower the percentage of monthly adjusted income that households must pay in rent from 30% to 20%. This change would affect several federal housing laws, including:

• United States Housing Act of 1937
• Housing Act of 1949
• Housing Act of 1959
• Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development must ensure that these adjustments do not reduce the number of beneficiaries receiving federal rental assistance.

2. Appropriations for Rental Assistance Programs

The bill authorizes ongoing funding for federal rental assistance programs. This includes provisions for annual appropriations to ensure program stability and continuity for future fiscal years, specifically for 2026 and beyond.

3. Prohibition of Source of Income Discrimination

The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination based on lawful sources of income under the Fair Housing Act. Amendments will be made to include "lawful source of income" alongside existing protections against discrimination based on national origin.

4. Housing Navigation Grants

New grants will be established to assist public housing agencies in helping families find suitable housing. This includes support for locating available units and connecting with landlords. The program will be funded with an allocation of $20 million annually starting in fiscal year 2026.

5. Use of Small Area Fair Market Rents

The bill enables the use of small area fair market rent calculations for the housing choice voucher program, allowing fare rates to be established by zip code to better reflect local rental markets beginning in fiscal year 2026.

6. Technical Assistance in Public Housing Applications

The legislation will also facilitate technical assistance for applicants trying to secure admission into public housing projects, making the process more accessible.

7. Expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher Program

The bill aims to expand the housing choice voucher program by allocating additional vouchers over a span of several years, with 500,000 new vouchers to be issued in 2026 and increasing increments in subsequent years up to a total of 1.5 million. This expansion is intended to address severe housing hardships, including homelessness and overcrowding.

8. Entitlement to Vouchers

Starting five years after the enactment, any family eligible for tenant-based rental assistance will have a guaranteed entitlement to receive that assistance, which is designed to secure housing stability for low-income families. Eligibility is defined as having an income not exceeding 80% of the area median income.

9. Management Assessment for Section 8 Program

Within a year after the bill is enacted, regulations will be established to evaluate the efficiency of the Section 8 Management Assessment Program, which assesses the timely approval processes for eligible families and landlords.

Relevant Companies

None found.