Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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 Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2026 creates a new housing choice voucher program aimed at helping families with young children or families expecting a child. It authorizes the Secretary to provide competitive assistance to public housing agencies for incremental vouchers and mobility-related services from fiscal years 2027 through 2032. Eligible families include those that are homeless, unstably housed, living in concentrated poverty, or at risk of displacement from opportunity areas. Participating public housing agencies must offer mobility-related services to help families move to opportunity areas with access to high-performing schools or quality childcare, though families are not required to use these services to get a voucher. The bill also details rules for voucher turnover, the reallocation of unobligated funds, and agency selection preferences.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +8
Would children be better off under this?
The program specifically targets families with young children under six or expecting a child, improving their living conditions and access to high-performing schools.
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households experiencing homelessness or concentrated poverty receive dedicated housing support and mobility assistance.
- Scored +8
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill creates a new housing choice voucher program specifically designed to assist homeless and unstably housed families with young children.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Assistance for Vulnerable Families: Under Section 2, adding subsection (23)(A)(iii), eligible families who are homeless, unstably housed, living in concentrated poverty, or facing displacement can receive housing support if they have a child under six or are welcoming a child soon. This directly helps families secure stable housing.
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Support Services for Better Opportunities: Under Section 2, adding subsection (23)(C)(i), public housing agencies must offer mobility-related services to help families move to opportunity areas that provide access to high-performing schools or high-quality childcare and early education. This can improve life outcomes for poor children.
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Voluntary Participation in Services: Under Section 2, adding subsection (23)(C)(i)(II), public housing agencies cannot require an eligible family to participate in mobility-related services as a condition of receiving a voucher. This ensures families have housing choices without being forced into specific programs.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Risk of Reallocation and Funding Delays: Under Section 2, adding subsection (23)(D)(ii), if a public housing agency fails to obligate assistance within a reasonable period, the Secretary may recapture and reallocate the funds. This could create administrative pressures or potential disruptions for agencies trying to serve families in their local communities.
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 children be better off under this? — The program specifically targets families with young children under six or expecting a child, improving their living conditions and access to high-performing schools. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income households experiencing homelessness or concentrated poverty receive dedicated housing support and mobility assistance. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Assistance targeted at reducing concentrated poverty helps disproportionately impacted minority communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Low-income Hispanic families living in areas of concentrated poverty stand to benefit from increased housing mobility options. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Families living in units not accessible to a family member with a disability are defined as unstably housed and prioritized for support. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban areas with high concentrations of poverty will receive competitive voucher awards to help families relocate to opportunity areas. Would women be better off under this? — Single mothers and women fleeing domestic violence who are unstably housed are explicitly prioritized for assistance. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults starting families and facing housing instability will benefit directly from the new housing vouchers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill creates a new housing choice voucher program specifically designed to assist homeless and unstably housed families with young children. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Eligible families explicitly include those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, providing direct pathways to stable housing. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Assisting low-income families with housing and mobility services in opportunity areas directly aids in lifting children and families out of poverty. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Targeting housing vouchers to families in concentrated poverty helps narrow racial disparities in neighborhood opportunity. Does this make child care cost less? — Mobility-related services connect eligible families with young children to high-quality early education and child care.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Providing housing vouchers and mobility services to low-income families can improve long-term economic mobility and workforce participation.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal authority through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer a competitive voucher and mobility program.
- 9/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana