Valerie Foushee (D-NC)
Grad Student Affordable Housing Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no 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
This bill is known as the Grad Student Affordable Housing Act of 2026. It requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to set up a program that gives housing assistance to graduate students. Within one year of the bill becoming law, the program must be created. Eligible graduate students can apply to the Secretary to receive help. Selected students will get tenant-based assistance vouchers that cover 80 percent of the fair market value rental cost for their chosen housing unit. To qualify, students must meet specific income limits depending on whether they are dependent or independent.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +9
Would students be better off under this?
Graduate and professional students meeting the eligibility criteria directly benefit through major subsidies for their rental housing costs.
- Scored +8
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Young adults pursuing graduate or professional degrees directly benefit from the tenant-based housing assistance vouchers.
- Scored +8
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill establishes a program providing housing vouchers covering 80 percent of fair market rental costs for eligible graduate students.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2(a) and Section 2(c): This provision requires the creation of a program that gives tenant-based assistance vouchers covering 80 percent of the fair market value rental cost for a housing unit chosen by a student. This is a positive outcome because it directly helps lower the cost of housing for graduate students who are selected for the assistance.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(d): This section sets strict income limits for graduate students to be considered covered graduate students, such as a maximum annual adjusted available income of $40,000 for a single independent individual or $80,000 for a married individual. This could be considered a burden or negative for students who make slightly more than these caps because they will not be eligible for the housing assistance program.
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 students be better off under this? — Graduate and professional students meeting the eligibility criteria directly benefit through major subsidies for their rental housing costs. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults pursuing graduate or professional degrees directly benefit from the tenant-based housing assistance vouchers. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income graduate students meeting the income caps receive substantial relief covering 80 percent of rental costs. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Older or returning independent students who qualify under income limits may also benefit from the graduate student housing vouchers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill establishes a program providing housing vouchers covering 80 percent of fair market rental costs for eligible graduate students. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Targeted housing assistance vouchers for graduate students improve housing stability and reduce the risk of homelessness. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing substantial rental assistance helps low-income graduate students manage their cost of living and financial burdens.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill significantly improves the overall financial affordability for individuals pursuing graduate and professional degrees by covering major housing costs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation tasks the Department of Housing and Urban Development with establishing and managing a new federal housing assistance program.
- 7/14/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Introduced in House