Congress advances a bipartisan breakthrough for housing
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
(June 2026) The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is expanding pathways to homeownership — and Habitat helped make it happen.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is historic, bipartisan legislation to bring homeownership within reach for more Americans by tackling longstanding barriers in the housing system. It includes more than 50 provisions touching nearly every part of the housing sector, delivering long-overdue reforms that expand supply, modernize housing programs, and drive innovative solutions to address the nation’s growing housing affordability crisis.
As we celebrate this legislative milestone, Habitat will continue to work with federal policymakers to expand homeownership opportunities and increase the supply of starter homes so that more families have a place to call home.
Advocating for affordable homes requires all of us. Learn more about how to become a housing advocate.
Tipping point for change
America’s housing crisis demands action
Owning a home is the key to building stability and wealth. Yet, with skyrocketing home prices, millions of Americans are locked out of the dream of homeownership. Today, the typical age of a first-time home buyer has risen to 40 years old.
- The shortage of starter homes impedes workers’ access to job markets with economic opportunities, holds back local economies, creates greater disparities in wealth, and keeps millions of would-be homebuyers in the rental market.
- At a time when housing needs are greater than ever, this bipartisan package is an important step toward addressing America’s housing affordability and supply crisis, an issue touching individuals in every corner of the country.
Real solutions required leaders to come together — across party lines.
Habitat’s role
How Habitat helped shape the outcome
Delivering comprehensive federal housing reform at scale did not happen overnight. Real solutions required years of continued bipartisan engagement to turn local needs into national action. Habitat played an important role in shaping more than a dozen provisions of this legislation — championing provisions that aim to boost housing supply and preservation, reduce regulatory barriers that slow development, modernize and strengthen federal housing programs and improve coordination to maximize impact.
Habitat influenced this legislation through close work with congressional offices and through sustained advocacy from Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat organizations located across the nation.
This milestone would not have been possible without the advocacy and engagement of Habitat-affiliated organizations, homeowners, partners, volunteers and supporters.
Some of the ways that Habitat helped advance this legislation:
Elevated Local Voices: Habitat engaged members of Congress to influence the legislative language based on the experiences of our network and the communities in which we work, helping to shape more effective solutions grounded in local perspectives and expertise.
Influenced 12+ Provisions: As a trusted organization in communities across the country — and around the world — we helped garner support for key provisions, such as the Whole-Homes Repairs Act.
Engaged 300+ Offices: Leveraging our 50 years of experience advancing housing solutions, we advocated for a focus on affordable homeownership by mobilizing across the nation.
Expanding pathways to homeownership
Opening the door through policy change
Habitat celebrates key provisions that expand pathways to homeownership for families across the country. For example, the bill reauthorizes and strengthens the HOME program, establishes a new Whole-Home Repairs program and streamlines federal environmental review for small-scale housing projects. The bill also modernizes USDA’s Rural Housing Service, allows Community Development Block Grant funding to be used for new construction, incentivizes states and localities to reform restrictive housing policies and invest in new home production and authorizes the CDBG-Disaster Recovery program for three years.
Legislative highlights to help expand the supply of affordable housing:
“Habitat for Humanity is proud to have helped shape this legislative milestone by advancing more than a dozen provisions in the final bill. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a testament to years of dedicated advocacy, strong partnerships and meaningful collaboration with policymakers. This progress reflects what’s possible when we work together, and we are deeply grateful to our affiliated network and all who joined us in turning this vision into reality.”
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Let’s make housing in the U.S. more affordable and accessible for all. Join us through Habitat Voices in Action as we work together for affordable homeownership.
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From city halls to statehouses, Habitat is working alongside partners and advocates in the United States to drive real change — reforming zoning laws, unlocking funding and shaping policies that make homeownership more attainable.
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Advocating for affordable homes requires all of us. Learn how you can help bring home within reach for millions of families in the U.S.