In contrast to the political gridlock that led to this fall’s government shutdown, there’s growing bipartisan momentum around one of the nation’s most pressing issues: the affordable housing crisis. This summer, the Senate Banking Committee unanimously advanced the most significant piece of housing legislation in over 16 years: the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. This landmark legislation was also included as an amendment to the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed in the Senate on October 10. Now, the bill’s potential impacts on the affordable housing landscape are coming into view.
The ROAD to Housing Act is a comprehensive package that brings together 40 different provisions – many of them aligned with Enterprise’s policy priorities – aimed at tackling the nation's housing crisis from multiple angles. At a time when the need for safe, affordable homes has never been more acute, this bill represents a critical and encouraging step forward.
The legislation includes several of Enterprise’s top federal policy priorities like:
- the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, which would reform the USDA’s Rural Housing Service to preserve affordable housing in rural communities;
- the HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act, reauthorizes the HOME program, increases the administrative cap to help local partners better deliver assistance, and makes it easier for nonprofits to qualify for funding (see how one Mississippi town has put HOME to work for residents).
- the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, which will help communities rebuild faster and more equitably after major disasters.
- the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act, which would strengthen and streamline HUD’s homelessness services and Housing Choice Voucher programs, making them work better for communities and residents.
The strength of the ROAD to Housing Act lies in its multi-pronged approach, which recognizes that there is no single solution to our housing challenges. The bill rightly focuses on a core driver of the affordability crisis: the urgent need to increase supply. Beyond building new homes, the bill makes vital investments in preserving our existing affordable housing stock and strengthening the federal programs that millions of families rely on. Crucially, the legislation also advances affordability and opportunity for homeowners and renters alike.
The act also looks to innovative housing models by increasing loan limits for FHA-insured manufactured housing loans and allowing FHA property improvement loans to be used for constructing accessory dwelling units (read more about how ADUs can transform neighborhoods). By addressing everything from land-use policy and federal program reform to innovative construction and cross-agency collaboration, the ROAD to Housing Act provides a powerful and comprehensive framework for accelerating housing supply and access. While the bill still has a long road to travel through the full Congress, its unanimous approval in committee and its inclusion in the FY26 NDAA bill is a powerful signal that our nation’s leaders are ready to work together on solutions.
