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Washington Policy Update
Allison Karakis, Senior Director, Government Relations
As the government shutdown extends into November and has become the longest on record, there still appears to be no clear resolution in sight. The effects are increasingly noticeable; one clear example is that over 2 million non-military federal government employees have not received paychecks. Many federal employees report reaching out to bill collectors and mortgage companies as unpaid bills accumulate and savings dwindle.
The House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through Nov. 21 that has failed multiple times in the Senate. As this date rapidly approaches, it will be necessary to either extend the deadline or adopt a different strategy to ensure adequate time to negotiate and approve the full year's funding.
As more information becomes available, we will provide a more detailed update.
Bipartisan Legislation Modernizing HOME Program Introduced
The House Financial Services Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Chairman Mike Flood (R-NE) introduced the HOME Reform Act of 2025, legislation that overhauls the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bipartisan legislation seeks to streamline regulations to strengthen public-private partnerships in efforts to encourage the building of more housing and rental properties to bring down the cost of housing.
Provisions include:
- Section 2: Expands eligibility of the HOME program to families up to 100% of area median income in the following areas:
o Allows for participating jurisdictions to invest in single-family homeownership assistance that benefits families with up to 100% of area median income.
o Allows for housing for homeownership that is occupied by a family with no less than 100% of area median income to qualify as affordable housing under the statute.
o Adjusts resale restrictions for single-family homes that receive HOME assistance to be open to families with up to 100% of area median income.
o Makes other technical changes clarifying uses of HOME dollars for single-family homeownership investment or repair that are open to families with up to 100% of area median income
- Section 6: Affordable Homeownership Housing Qualifications: Increases the maximum median purchase price allowable for housing for homeownership in the statute from 95% of median purchase price for the area to 110% of median purchase price for the area.
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