H.R. 8985: Housing for All Veterans Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Housing for All Veterans Act of 2026, aims to create a rental assistance program specifically for low-income veteran families. Here’s a breakdown of what it entails:

Rental Assistance Program

The bill introduces amendments to the United States Housing Act of 1937 by establishing a new rental assistance program designed for qualified veteran families. The main points include:

• Definition of Qualified Veteran Family:
  • A veteran family must have an income at or below 50% of the applicable income limit for extremely low-income families in 2027, and that threshold increases to 75% in 2028.
  • For 2029, the definition includes families classified as extremely low-income, and in 2030 it expands to very low-income families. From 2031 onward, the category will include low-income veteran families.
• Entitlement to Assistance:
  • Veteran families that qualify are entitled to receive rental assistance.
  • Public housing agencies are required to give any veteran family who wishes to apply the chance to do so and must provide assistance promptly.
• Information and Services:
  • The Secretary, along with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will provide information about services available for veterans to public housing agencies, which they must then relay to the families receiving assistance.
• Non-Discrimination Clause:
  • Property owners with five or more rental units cannot refuse to lease a unit to a qualified veteran family simply because they use a voucher funded by this program.
• Verification:
  • An electronic process will be maintained to verify the veteran status of applicants for rental assistance.
• Administration:
  • Public housing agencies may receive service fees to cover their costs in assisting veteran families to lease units, with a maximum fee of $4,000 per eligible household adjusted for inflation.
• Use of Funds:
  • Funds authorized for the program will supplement existing rental assistance and will be appropriated annually to cover the necessary costs.

Compliance and Transition

The bill states that no veteran currently receiving rental assistance should experience a redetermination of eligibility due to these changes. It also specifies that disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs will not count as income for determining eligibility in this program.

Effective Date

The provisions in this bill would take effect at the beginning of the fiscal year following its enactment.

Relevant Companies

None found.