John Fetterman (D-PA)
Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
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 Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025 sets up a pilot program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants and loans for home repairs. Under Section 3, the Secretary must award grants to a limited number of implementing organizations to manage these funds. These organizations will give grants directly to eligible low-income homeowners and forgivable loans to eligible landlords. The program specifically targets accessibility updates, habitability and safety fixes, and energy and water efficiency improvements. Participating landlords must agree to certain conditions, such as capping rent increases and keeping units affordable. The pilot program is funded by using up to $25,000,000 from existing funds and is set to terminate on October 1, 2030.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides direct financial assistance for home repairs to households meeting specific low-income thresholds.
- Scored +8
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill targets home modifications specifically designed for physical and sensory accessibility.
- Scored +8
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill provides grants and loans to improve the habitability and preservation of affordable housing units.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Grants for Low-Income Homeowners: Under Section 3(b)(1), eligible homeowners can receive grants to implement whole-home repairs up to a maximum amount approved by the Secretary. This helps people with limited means fix safety issues, make accessibility modifications, or improve energy efficiency in their homes without taking on debt.
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Loans for Eligible Landlords: Under Section 3(b)(2), eligible landlords can receive loans, which may be forgivable, to make whole-home repairs to affordable rental units and common areas. This helps improve the quality and safety of rental housing for tenants.
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Rent Protections and Lease Extensions: Under Section 3(c)(2)(B), landlords receiving loans must offer to extend the leases of current tenants for at least three years after repairs are completed and cap annual rent increases at 5 percent or inflation, whichever is lower. This protects renters from getting priced out of their homes right after improvements are made.
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Workforce Training Support: Under Section 3(b)(5), implementing organizations are allowed to use up to 10 percent of their awarded funds for related functions like workforce training. This can help build local job skills while increasing the number of home repairs performed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Burdensome Loan Requirements for Landlords: Under Section 3(c), landlords who take out loans must meet strict rules, including maintaining units as affordable housing and capping rent increases for at least three years. If a landlord fails to follow these rules or if repairs are not completed, they may face financial penalties or be required to repay the funds on a prorated basis as detailed in Section 3(b)(4).
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Repayment and Unused Funds Rules: Under Section 3(b)(4), if approved repairs are not completed and the work plan is not updated, the grant or loan must be repaid on a prorated basis, and any unused balances must be returned. This could create administrative hurdles or financial stress for participants if projects face unexpected delays or cost changes.
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 provides direct financial assistance for home repairs to households meeting specific low-income thresholds. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill targets home modifications specifically designed for physical and sensory accessibility. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill funds accessibility modifications that specifically benefit older adults. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill instructs implementing organizations to provide a share of funds commensurate to non-metropolitan populations. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill defines Indian Tribes as eligible states/territories for the implementation of the program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill provides grants and loans to improve the habitability and preservation of affordable housing units. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill funds physical and sensory accessibility modifications like ramps and grab bars for people with disabilities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill assists low-income homeowners and renters with essential home repair costs.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill explicitly includes plans to address needs in non-metropolitan and rural areas. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill includes funds for energy and water efficiency and weatherization improvements.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill allows implementing organizations to use up to 10 percent of funds for workforce training to increase home repairs. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides financial assistance through loans to small-scale landlords to improve their properties.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reports to Congress detailing demographic data and program outcomes.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/25/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/18/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
James JusticeRepublican · West Virginia
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia