What is the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act?
Following a year of negotiation between the House, Senate, and White House, on July 11, 2026, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act—the first comprehensive housing package in decades became law.
“We have seen strong, bipartisan efforts in Congress and the Administration to address the housing crisis through pragmatic, locally informed policy solutions that local leaders will put to used at the local level”
Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director, National Legue of Cities
Passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 85-5 in the Senate and 358-32 in the House, this historic legislation is meant to tackle the nation’s housing challenges by:
- Boosting housing supply through public and private sector assistance and incentives.
- Unlocking private capital to increase lending for more housing types.
- Providing timely updates to grant programs including the Community Development Block Grants and the HOME Partnership Program.
- Streamlining federal regulations to speed up construction.
Just as importantly for local governments, the legislation is an example of Congress choosing partnership with local governments over preemptions to address the nation’s deficit of millions of units of housing.
Key Takeaways
- Funding & Deficit: The package is deficit-neutral. While it authorizes several new programs, it does not directly fund them—funding depends on future decisions by the Appropriations Committees.
- Local Control: It preserves local authority and imposes no unfunded mandates on state or local governments.
- Implementation Timeline: Most provisions require federal agencies to implement changes within 12, 18, or 24 months of enactment, though a few offer extended timelines.
Resources
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act FAQs
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Bill Text
CitiesSpeak Blogs & Podcasts
Videos
Events
Stay Up to Date on 21st Century ROAD to Housing
Get the latest 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Just fill out the form below to subscribe.
