Fiscal Year 2026 HUD Funding Bill Moves Out of House Appropriations Committee

Strategic Insights -

The House Appropriations Committee's move to advance the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding bill has been met with disappointment from LeadingAge, a leading voice for nonprofit providers of aging services. According to Linda Couch, Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, the bill falls short on funding for public housing and voucher programs that are crucial for providing housing stability to over one million older adult households and millions more. This move is particularly concerning given the need for affordable housing assistance, which is more pressing than ever.

Key Takeaways:

  • The House Appropriations Committee's FY26 HUD funding bill has been criticized by LeadingAge for its lack of funding for public housing and voucher programs.
  • The bill prioritizes funding for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance programs, which are long-standing priorities for LeadingAge.
  • The move to advance the bill opens the door to programmatic flexibilities for public housing and voucher programs, undermining their ability to serve as the federal housing safety net for older adults.
  • Over one million older adult households rely on public housing and voucher programs for housing stability.
  • Financial constraints, particularly for public housing and voucher programs, threaten the long-term affordability of housing for this vulnerable population.
  • LeadingAge represents over 5,400 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-driven organizations that cater to the diverse needs of older adults.

Statistics:

  • The FY26 HUD funding bill prioritizes funding for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance programs.
  • The bill fails to adequately fund public housing and voucher programs, which provide housing stability for over one million older adult households and millions more.
  • 1,033,142 older adult households received housing assistance from the Section 8/Welfare Program as of February 2023 (according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).
  • LeadingAge has 5,400+ nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-driven organizations in their membership.

Sources:

  • LeadingAge: [Statement by Linda Couch, Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, LeadingAge](https://www.leadingage.org/news/2025/leadingage-statement-on-house-appropriations-committees-passing-fy-2026-hud-funding)
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: [Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) Waiting List Data (as of February 2023)](https://www.hud.gov/news/wia/disctbl)