Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 14 Democratic cosponsors · See all 14 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
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
The Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2026 aims to increase housing supply and lower rents. It authorizes significant annual funding for the Home Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants, and the Housing Trust Fund through 2035. These funds are specifically limited to areas where the Secretary has applied a high housing cost adjustment. Additionally, the bill mandates an assessment of alternative methods for calculating area median income to improve affordability for low-income families in urban areas. The Secretary must also evaluate the impacts of high housing cost adjustments and the effects of specific regional income metrics.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill increases funding for housing assistance and explores ways to make housing more affordable for low-income families.
- Scored +7
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill provides substantial annual funding for housing programs and directs an assessment to improve affordability metrics.
- Scored +6
Would people in cities be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets housing affordability issues within urban areas and high-cost jurisdictions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased funding for high-cost areas: The bill authorizes $5,000,000,000 annually for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035 for the Home Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants, and the Housing Trust Fund, provided they are used in jurisdictions with a high housing cost adjustment (Section 2).
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Improved affordability through better metrics: The Secretary is required to assess alternative methods, such as calculating income on a ZIP Code level basis, to make housing more affordable for low-income families in urban areas (Section 3(a), Section 3(b)(4)).
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Targeted relief for urban housing crises: The assessment process includes reviewing the impacts of the affordable housing crisis in urban areas, specifically targeting jurisdictions where high housing cost adjustments are applied (Section 3(b)(2)).
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Potential for housing reform: The bill directs the Secretary to provide recommendations on how to reform or eliminate the use of area median income to better serve low-income and middle-class families (Section 3(b)(7)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Funding restrictions: The significant appropriations for the Home Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants, and the Housing Trust Fund are strictly limited to use in areas where the Secretary has applied a high housing cost adjustment (Section 2).
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 increases funding for housing assistance and explores ways to make housing more affordable for low-income families. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets housing affordability issues within urban areas and high-cost jurisdictions. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill includes assessments to help make housing more affordable for middle-class families in urban areas. Would children be better off under this? — Improved housing affordability can lead to more stable living environments for children.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill provides substantial annual funding for housing programs and directs an assessment to improve affordability metrics. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increasing housing supply and lowering rents can help lift households out of housing insecurity and poverty.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill authorizes billions in funding for housing infrastructure and community development programs.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill's focus on community development block grants can support localized urban infrastructure improvements.
- 5/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 14 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Ted LieuDemocrat · California
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Jerrold NadlerDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
Ayanna PressleyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey