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By Claire Dickey
Senior Editor
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A bipartisan bill reintroduced in the U.S. Senate could provide forgivable home repair loans to landlords across the nation, in addition to grants for homeowners with low to moderate incomes.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act, spearheaded by Senators John Fetterman and Cynthia Lummis, seeks to replicate the success of Pennsylvania's state-level Whole-Home Repairs program on a national scale, addressing the ongoing housing crisis.
Senators Mike Rounds and Tina Smith have joined as original cosponsors, highlighting the bipartisan support for this initiative.
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Why It Matters
Approximately 6.7 million Americans lived in homes with "moderately or severely inadequate housing with multiple physical deficiencies" as of 2021—from mold to pests to cooling and heating system failures—according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Per the legislation's press release, these issues disproportionately affect low-income households and communities of color, in turn magnifying health, safety economic disparities.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act targets these challenges by offering forgivable loans to eligible landlords as well as grants to homeowners. This initiative supports essential repairs and renovations to improve safety and livability in homes—crucial for preserving housing stock and stabilizing communities, especially in underserved areas.
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What To Know
The Whole-Home Repairs Act was reintroduced to the Senate on January 16 after first being introduced in March 2024.
If passed, fully forgivable loans would be granted to small landlords to ensure properties remain safe and livable. Eligibility includes managing fewer than 10 residential properties with no more than 50 units total, the majority being affordable units. According to the bill text, these loans are conditioned on maintaining property standards and affordability for a minimum period post-repair.
The bill also includes provisions for grants to homeowners with low to moderate incomes, allowing them to undertake necessary repairs and renovations to their homes. These grants are intended to help homeowners address a variety of issues that affect the safety, habitability and efficiency of their residences.
A spokesperson for Fetterman told Newsweek that the bill adopts a flexible approach to allocating grant amounts for homeowner repairs, in particular. It permits local entities like states or counties to set appropriate grant caps based on their unique local conditions, accounting for regional variations in labor and material costs.
What People Are Saying
Senator Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, said in a press release: "The Whole-Home Repairs Act will not only provide an opportunity to assist homeowners, but it will also establish a new standard for how federal programs can operate more efficiently... Maintaining our existing housing stock is vitally important, especially in rural communities where it is often cost prohibitive to develop new housing. The Whole-Home Repair program will allow housing practitioners the ability to adequately rehab our existing housing units so the housing can continue to be safe and affordable for the long-term."
Chris Vincent, vice president of government relations and advocacy at Habitat for Humanity International, said: "The most affordable home is the one a family is already in... As access to new affordable housing continues to be a challenge for low-income Americans, we simply cannot afford to lose our existing housing stock. The Whole-Home Repairs Act will provide funding to not only maintain existing units but keep longtime residents in the communities that they have always called home[...]."
Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project, said: "Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. When people cannot afford to repair their homes, ongoing issues can drive up utility bills or even force them to live in dangerous conditions... The Whole Home Repairs Act would provide vital support to working families by funding essential repairs and upgrades, ensuring homes are habitable and safe[...]."
Matt Josephs, senior vice president of policy for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), said: "... LISC administers home repair programs targeted to low-income homeowners and has seen firsthand the challenges these families face when trying to access resources to maintain their homes. This legislation will provide critical assistance to organizations working with underserved homeowners to ensure they live in safe and decent housing and ultimately preserve their homes."
Coalition for Home Repair said in a press release: "... Too many households with low incomes face urgent home repair needs but are left without support due to fragmented programs and long waitlists. By streamlining access to essential resources and integrating workforce development, this bill helps to bridge this gap, ensuring that vulnerable families can maintain safe, habitable homes as part of the broader effort to tackle the housing crisis."
What Happens Next
The bill was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs last week.
If passed, lawmakers will assess the pilot program's impact and effectiveness in improving housing conditions across the U.S. up until its proposed termination on October 1, 2030.
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