“This program helped thousands of Pennsylvanians stay in their homes, imagine what it could do for families across the country.”
Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) reintroduced the Whole-Home Repairs Act, a bipartisan bill to address the nationwide housing crisis by providing essential home repair assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners and small landlords. The legislation seeks to replicate the successful Whole-Home Repairs program spearheaded in Pennsylvania on a federal scale through a five-year pilot initiative. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined as original cosponsors.
“Last year, we took an idea that was born and bred in Pennsylvania and brought it to the national stage. Now we’re back to finish the job,” said Senator Fetterman.“Millions of families are living in homes that are unsafe, unhealthy, or unlivable because they can’t afford repairs. The Whole-Home Repairs Act promotes a practical, proven solution to this problem. This program helped thousands of Pennsylvanians stay in their homes, imagine what it could do for families across the country. I will proudly continue pushing to make this happen at the federal level.”
“Bureaucratic red tape continues to pain low-income families throughout the Cowboy State when they apply for federal home repair grants,” said Senator Lummis. “I am partnering with Senator Fetterman to pilot a program that would make this process easier to navigate for low-income homeowners and small landlords to return their properties to safe conditions for Wyoming families.”
“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,” said Senator Rounds. “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. I appreciate the opportunity to work with my colleagues on the Banking Committee to introduce this important legislation.”
“Without a safe, decent place to live, nothing in your life works. For too many families, it’s increasingly difficult to keep up with major home repairs that are essential to maintaining a safe household,” said Senator Smith. “The Whole-Home Repairs program gives homeowners and local landlords the ability to get reliable, affordable upgrades and repairs to their homes, addressing the housing crisis one safe, livable home at a time. I am proud to cosponsor this bill to expand this initiative.”
Across the country, an estimated 6.7 million Americans live in homes with serious deficiencies such as leaking roofs, mold, faulty wiring, or inadequate heating and cooling systems. These issues disproportionately affect renters, low-income households, and communities of color, exacerbating existing inequalities in health, safety, and financial stability. By addressing housing deterioration at its root, the Whole-Home Repairs Act tackles one of the biggest contributors to the housing shortage: the loss of livable housing units to blight and decay.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act expands on a Pennsylvania program, championed by State Senator Nikil Saval and County Executive Sara Innamorato, that provided grants and forgivable loans to help homeowners and small landlords repair and weatherize their properties. The Pennsylvania program also supported training and pre-apprenticeship programs to create jobs and build a skilled workforce for the future.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act has earned praise from a wide range of housing advocates and organizations, including the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Towns and Townships, BPC Action, Coalition for Home Repair, Habitat for Humanity International, National Housing Law Project (NHLP), National NeighborWorks Association (NNA), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), National Community Development Association, National Association of REALTORS, and Housing Assistance Council.
“The Whole-Home Repairs Act represents a significant step toward addressing one of the most pressing gaps in the home repair system,” said the Coalition for Home Repair. “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.”
“The most affordable home is the one a family is already in,” said Chris Vincent, vice president of government relations and advocacy at Habitat for Humanity International. “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. Habitat thanks Senators Fetterman and Lummis for their bipartisan leadership in advancing the Whole-Home Repairs Act, and for their commitment to increasing access to affordable homeownership for all Americans.”
“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,” said National Housing Law Project. “The Whole Home Repairs Act would provide vital support to working families by funding essential repairs and upgrades, ensuring homes are habitable and safe. We are proud to support this bill, which not only strengthens family housing stability but also enhances community strength and resilience,” said Shamus Roller, Executive Director of the National Housing Law Project.
“The National NeighborWorks Association applauds and supports introducing the Whole Homes Repair Act co-sponsored by Senators Fetterman and Lummis,” said Lou Tisler, Executive Director of National NeighborWorks Association NNA. “Our over 240 members across the nation would have another tool in the toolbox to address the supply-side issue of housing by preserving and repairing current housing stock that would promote aging in place, multi-generational housing, and decreasing blight and demolition.”
“The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) thanks Senators Fetterman and Lummis for introducing the Whole-Home Repairs Act,” said Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President for Policy, LISC. “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.”
“The condition of much of the nation’s older housing stock is a cause for concern. Rising material and labor costs make it extremely challenging for low- and moderate-income households, especially those on fixed incomes, to afford necessary home repairs.” said Vicki Watson, Executive Director, National Community Development Association. “The Whole-Home Repairs Act would provide vital resources to communities, enabling them to partner with local organizations and homeowners to repair properties and revitalize neighborhoods.”
“The introduction of the Whole-Home Repair Act is a vital step in addressing the dual challenges of housing supply and affordability. This five-year program has the ability to empower homeowners to make critical repairs, ensuring their homes remain safe, efficient, and livable while protecting property values and enhancing housing stability in communities across the country,” said The National Association of REALTORS®. “We thank Senator Fetterman and Senator Lummis for their bipartisan leadership on this critical issue and look forward to supporting this legislation as it moves through the legislative process. Together, we can make a lasting impact on families, neighborhoods, and the nation’s housing supply.”
“Many rural communities deal with an aging and substandard housing stock in need of repair,” said David Lipsetz, President & CEO of the Housing Assistance Council. “We applaud Senator Fetterman and Senator Lummis for the reintroduction of their Whole-Home Repairs Act. This commonsense, bipartisan bill would take a tested and proven state program and expand it into a national pilot, helping families to make needed repairs to their homes and invest in the quality of our neighborhoods and communities.”
The full text of the bill is available here.
