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Legislative bills

Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025: Expanding Protections for Veterans and Low-Income Families

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The U.S. Senate introduced the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025, a bicameral bill that seeks to protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination. The legislation expands the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to prohibit housing discrimination based on military status, veteran status, and source of income. This bill would give more people access to affordable housing by ensuring that individuals who use Housing Choice Vouchers, HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, or other lawful sources of income are not denied housing due to their income source.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 would expand the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to prohibit housing discrimination based on military status, veteran status, and source of income.
  • The bill would prohibit landlords from denying housing to individuals who use Housing Choice Vouchers, HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, or other lawful sources of income.
  • 2.3 million veterans and low-income households use Housing Choice Vouchers to pay rent, but currently, there are no federal protections to prevent individuals from being denied housing based on SOI.
  • The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).
  • The bill is supported by over 30 organizations, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Virginia Housing Alliance, and the American Association of Service Coordinators, among others.

Statistics:

  • 2.3 million veterans and low-income households use Housing Choice Vouchers to pay rent.
  • Only 2 states (Virginia and California) have enacted legislation to prohibit discrimination based on source of income, and this bill aims to expand those protections nationwide.
  • The bill would provide 40 months for landlords to come into compliance with the new law.
  • The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was signed into law over 55 years ago, but far too many individuals do not experience the protections it promised.

Sources:

  • "Kaine, Schiff, & Peters Introduce Bill to Protect Veterans and Low-Income Families from Housing Discrimination" (Senator Tim Kaine's office, Sept 17)
  • https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-schiff-and-peters-introduce-bill-to-protect-veterans-and-low-income-families-from-housing-discrimination

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