Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Build Homes, Not Hate Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Build Homes, Not Hate Act of 2026," directs the Administrator of FEMA to establish a new grant program. The program aims to help eligible entities create housing units and provide services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It allocates significant funding for building affordable and market-rate housing, as well as direct services like emergency shelters and rental assistance. The funds are intended to supplement rather than replace existing funding. Finally, the bill rescinds $70,000,000,000 from unobligated balances available to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fund this initiative.
Yes· 3 of 41
- Scored +10
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill provides massive funding specifically for creating and preserving affordable housing units.
- Scored +10
Is this likely to reduce homelessness?
The primary purpose of the act is to fund the creation of housing and services to reduce homelessness.
- Scored +9
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill directly targets the creation of affordable housing and support services for those in need.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill rescinds $70 billion from ICE and prohibits use of funds for border wall construction or enforcement.
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill rescinds $70 billion from ICE, representing a reduction in spending for that specific agency.
- Scored -2
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
By prohibiting the use of these funds for immigration surveillance, it limits that specific type of domestic surveillance.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Creation of Housing: Not less than $54,000,000,000 is designated for eligible entities to build, acquire, rehabilitate, convert, or preserve new affordable and market-rate housing units (Section 2(b)(1)).
-
Direct Support Services: Not less than $14,000,000,000 is set aside to provide services such as emergency shelter, rental assistance, rapid rehousing, and homelessness prevention (Section 2(b)(2)).
-
Specialized Assistance: The bill provides for various specific services including behavioral health, substance use disorder services, employment services, services for survivors of domestic violence, youth services, veteran services, and disability-related services (Section 2(b)(2)).
-
Targeted Community Aid: The Administrator is directed to prioritize communities that deal with high rates of unsheltered or chronic homelessness, or those facing severe housing cost burdens (Section 2(d)).
-
Flexible Housing Methods: Housing can be created through diverse methods such as new construction, modular construction, manufactured housing, or the conversion of hotels, motels, and office buildings (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill directly targets the creation of affordable housing and support services for those in need. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill funds disability-related services and accessibility modifications for housing. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill explicitly includes veteran services in its supportive housing and transition framework. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban areas often face the highest rates of homelessness and housing cost burdens. Would women be better off under this? — The bill includes specific services for survivors of domestic violence. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Expanding affordable housing can help address economic disparities affecting many minority communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Expanding affordable housing can help address economic disparities affecting many minority communities. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increasing the supply of housing can help stabilize costs for the broader population. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes funding for Tribal governments as eligible entities. Would business owners be better off under this? — Construction activity and increased consumer stability can benefit local businesses. Would children be better off under this? — The bill includes youth services as part of the homelessness response. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Increased stability and support services benefit all vulnerable community members. Would men be better off under this? — Increased housing stability benefits all men experiencing homelessness. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Increased housing availability benefits all working-age adults. Would retired people be better off under this? — Increased housing stability and availability benefit the senior population. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Increased housing availability benefits seniors, particularly those at risk of homelessness. Would students be better off under this? — Increased housing availability can benefit young people entering the workforce. Would union members be better off under this? — Increased construction activity can create more jobs for unionized labor. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill includes youth services as part of the homelessness response. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Increased housing supply benefits all demographic groups facing rising costs. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Increased housing supply can have positive indirect economic effects on market-rate housing. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill focuses on housing stability, though it also rescinds funds related to immigration enforcement. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — While focused on high-need areas, the bill provides grants that can be used by local and tribal governments. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Increased housing supply benefits all demographic groups facing rising costs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill provides massive funding specifically for creating and preserving affordable housing units. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The primary purpose of the act is to fund the creation of housing and services to reduce homelessness. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing housing and support services is a direct method of reducing poverty and its impacts. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill specifically funds disability-related services and accessibility modifications. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The provision for services for survivors of domestic violence supports gender equality and safety. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Increased affordable housing access can help mitigate systemic economic disparities often tied to race. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill rescinds $70 billion from ICE and prohibits use of funds for border wall construction or enforcement.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill funds behavioral health and substance use disorder services for those experiencing homelessness. Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — Funding for substance use disorder services directly addresses components of the opioid crisis. Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill specifically allocates funds for veteran services within the homelessness response framework. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill integrates various support services including health-related assistance for vulnerable populations.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill directs the FEMA Administrator to establish this new housing and homelessness grant program. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill mentions environmental remediation as a component of housing activities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The construction of new housing units and revitalization of properties is likely to stimulate job creation in the construction sector. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Increased investment in housing infrastructure can provide a stimulus to local economies. Is this likely to slow the rise in prices? — By increasing the supply of housing, the bill may help mitigate long-term housing cost inflation. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill rescinds $70 billion from ICE, representing a reduction in spending for that specific agency.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the role and funding authority of a federal agency (FEMA) to address housing issues.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill includes specific funding for veteran services within the context of housing and support. Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — By prohibiting the use of these funds for immigration surveillance, it limits that specific type of domestic surveillance.
- 7/30/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
- Introduced in House