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Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4457| House 
| Updated: 7/16/2025
Pramila Jayapal

Pramila Jayapal

Democratic Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (30)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Morgan McGarvey (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Summer L. Lee (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Jimmy Gomez (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Ways and Means Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee, Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This comprehensive bill, titled the "Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025," seeks to address the multifaceted issue of homelessness by tackling its root causes, meeting the needs of affected individuals, and transitioning communities toward universal housing. A central tenet is to end the **penalization of homelessness**, which involves imposing criminal or civil penalties on individuals for necessary human activities like sleeping or resting. The legislation authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants for developing **alternatives to penalizing homelessness**, including diversion programs focused on harm reduction and mobile crisis intervention teams. It also establishes the **CDBG Plus Program** under HUD, a new initiative dedicated to reducing homelessness, housing instability, and cost burdens, with a priority on low-income households and populations at higher risk of homelessness. This program supports activities such as affordable housing construction, public services, and infrastructure for basic human needs, explicitly prohibiting funds for entities that penalize homelessness. Significant funding is authorized for existing programs, including the Emergency Solutions Grant, Continuum of Care, and FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter grants, with expanded eligible activities and non-discrimination requirements. These programs, along with the CDBG Plus Program, will be partially funded by new tax code amendments. These amendments introduce taxes on **luxury real property transfers** exceeding $10 million, **real property secrecy transfers** involving anonymous entities, and a **mass landlord rental tax** for large property owners. To receive federal assistance, governmental units must adopt **Housing First** strategies, cease penalizing homelessness, address structural bias, facilitate personal identification for homeless individuals, and ensure voting access. All entities receiving funds must implement written non-discrimination policies, explicitly including gender-related identity. Non-governmental entities receiving substantial funding must also ensure staff are trained in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and cultural competency. The bill permanently authorizes the **United States Interagency Council on Homelessness**, enhancing its functions to promote evidence-based practices like Housing First and address disparities faced by high-risk populations. A new advisory board, with significant representation from individuals with lived experience of homelessness, will provide guidance and oversight to the Council. Additionally, the Election Assistance Commission is mandated to study and provide grants to facilitate **voting access** for homeless and housing-unstable individuals, addressing barriers like irregular addresses and voter ID laws.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-6308
Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3772
Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1708
Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2023
Jul 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 16, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-6308
    Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3772
    Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1708
    Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2023


  • July 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 16, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Housing and Community Development

Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4457| House 
| Updated: 7/16/2025
This comprehensive bill, titled the "Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025," seeks to address the multifaceted issue of homelessness by tackling its root causes, meeting the needs of affected individuals, and transitioning communities toward universal housing. A central tenet is to end the **penalization of homelessness**, which involves imposing criminal or civil penalties on individuals for necessary human activities like sleeping or resting. The legislation authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants for developing **alternatives to penalizing homelessness**, including diversion programs focused on harm reduction and mobile crisis intervention teams. It also establishes the **CDBG Plus Program** under HUD, a new initiative dedicated to reducing homelessness, housing instability, and cost burdens, with a priority on low-income households and populations at higher risk of homelessness. This program supports activities such as affordable housing construction, public services, and infrastructure for basic human needs, explicitly prohibiting funds for entities that penalize homelessness. Significant funding is authorized for existing programs, including the Emergency Solutions Grant, Continuum of Care, and FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter grants, with expanded eligible activities and non-discrimination requirements. These programs, along with the CDBG Plus Program, will be partially funded by new tax code amendments. These amendments introduce taxes on **luxury real property transfers** exceeding $10 million, **real property secrecy transfers** involving anonymous entities, and a **mass landlord rental tax** for large property owners. To receive federal assistance, governmental units must adopt **Housing First** strategies, cease penalizing homelessness, address structural bias, facilitate personal identification for homeless individuals, and ensure voting access. All entities receiving funds must implement written non-discrimination policies, explicitly including gender-related identity. Non-governmental entities receiving substantial funding must also ensure staff are trained in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and cultural competency. The bill permanently authorizes the **United States Interagency Council on Homelessness**, enhancing its functions to promote evidence-based practices like Housing First and address disparities faced by high-risk populations. A new advisory board, with significant representation from individuals with lived experience of homelessness, will provide guidance and oversight to the Council. Additionally, the Election Assistance Commission is mandated to study and provide grants to facilitate **voting access** for homeless and housing-unstable individuals, addressing barriers like irregular addresses and voter ID laws.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-6308
Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3772
Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1708
Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2023
Jul 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 16, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-6308
    Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3772
    Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1708
    Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2023


  • July 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 16, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Pramila Jayapal

Pramila Jayapal

Democratic Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (30)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Morgan McGarvey (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Summer L. Lee (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Jimmy Gomez (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Ways and Means Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee, Education and Workforce Committee

Housing and Community Development

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted