Federal Updates
NLIHC Extends Sign-on Letter Deadline in Support of FEMA Act
Our partners at the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) are extending the deadline to January 30 for organizations to join a sign-on letter in support of the bipartisan “FEMA Act” (H.R.4669). As you may have heard, the final FEMA Review Council meeting originally scheduled for December 11 was unexpectedly cancelled without a message to the public. The Council was supposed to release and vote on the final draft of their report recommending what news sources are reporting to be drastic and harmful changes for the agency’s future.
News outlets who have obtained a leaked copy of a draft of the final report (that was heavily edited by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem) say that it recommends:
- Gutting FEMA’s workforce by 50%
- Increasing the level of damage it takes for a place to qualify for any kind of disaster assistance at all
- Keeping FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security
These are all ideas that would be incredibly damaging to disaster survivors and set our disaster recovery system back decades. Instead, we envision a future for the agency, through the bipartisan FEMA Act, in which FEMA could better ensure that disaster survivors can access the assistance they need to fully recover; all while encouraging states to take greater steps to address their disaster risk.
As part of this effort, we’re asking organizations in our network to sign onto NLIHC’s FEMA Act support letter by Jan 30.
THUD Bill Released, Rejects Extreme Cuts
The Transportation, Housing & Urban Development (THUD) budget was just released this morning as part of the third and final round of spending bills. Congress has been passing the bills in small batches and needs to either pass the remaining spending bills or pass another Continuing Resolution (CR) by January 30 when the current CR expires. We have not had time to dig into the bill text yet, but will have more for you in this week’s policy update email.
Overall, this latest minibus, which includes Labor, Health and Human Services, Transportation & Housing & Community Development, seems to have bipartisan, bicameral backing. The House Democrat Appropriations Committee released a statement of support this morning, with Democratic House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro noting: “This latest funding package continues Congress’s forceful rejection of extreme cuts to federal programs proposed by the Trump Administration.” Check out the full bill text here.
Housing Advocates Oppose Public Charge, Fair Housing Act Proposed Rules
Two recent Proposed Rules from the Trump Administration threaten housing stability for immigrants and fair housing protections broadly. Our partners at the National Low Income Housing Coalition have submitted comments along with more than 170 members of Congress in opposition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s “public charge” Proposed Rule. While “public charge” rules have been used for over a century to determine immigrants’ eligibility for admission to the US or approval for a green card, the Biden Administration previously exempted several health and social services from public charge consideration, including housing assistance programs such as public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and Project-Based Rental Assistance. The new Proposed Rule would replace clear guidelines on what programs can be considered in a public charge assessment, causing widespread confusion and inevitably the loss of housing benefits for many immigrant families. The Proposed Rule will also negatively impact disaster recovery benefits and processes. The Department of Homeland Security must now review more than 8,000 comments submitted before potentially announcing a final rule.
Advocates are also opposing a new Proposed Rule from HUD that would roll back disparate impact enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. This follows an April 2025 Executive Order directing agencies to eliminate disparate impact liability across the practices and policies of the Federal government. ““HUD’s proposal to roll back disparate impact enforcement under the Fair Housing Act would make it far easier to discriminate in the housing market – whether it’s by unfairly jacking up prices or establishing policies that make it harder for a person of color, a disabled veteran, or a mom with kids to live in the neighborhood,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs said in a statement. This Proposed Rule comes amidst a rise in housing discrimination complaints that are going unanswered as HUD dismantles its systems for fair housing enforcement.
HOMES Act
Cuts to manufactured-home efficiency rules would hit Southeast hard
Affordable HOMES Act Removes DOE Oversight From Manufactured Housing, Claims it Will Drop Prices by $10K | Planetizen News / Affordable HOMES Act passes House
Affordability Headlines
Schumer lays out Democrats’ housing affordability agenda
Trump Is Set to Unveil Big Plans Addressing Housing Affordability This Week. Here’s What We Know
Trump has a plan to make housing more affordable. Will it work? | CBS News
Affordability concerns focus of GOP blueprint for sequel to ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
Other National Headlines
FEMA is getting rid of thousands of workers in areas recovering from disasters
House Financial Services Committee to Hold HUD Oversight Hearing
State Updates
Property Tax Headlines
Inside the property tax exemptions that cost North Carolina billions
‘It takes away from your quality of life’: NC lawmakers again focus on property taxes
Disaster Recovery Housing Updates
Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program Deadline Extended
The application deadline for the Single-Family Housing Program has been extended through January 31, 2026. Learn more about how to apply.
Other Disaster Recovery Housing Headlines
State program assists Helene-damaged rental properties | biltmorebeacon.com
NC Governor Stein seeks additional Helene relief funding, new drone regulations | NC Newsline
City of Asheville and State of North Carolina Formalize $3M Partnership for Asheville Single-Family Home Repair Program | City of Asheville
Hurricane recovery, resilience, community investment highlight DEQ actions in 2025 | NC Department of Environment Quality
Other State Headlines
New work requirements for Medicaid, SNAP will cost NC millions | WUNC
NCDHHS offering free radon test kits in January | FOX8 WGHP
Local Headlines
NC transitional housing nonprofit opens new location in Rowan County | NC Newsline
Durham has spent nearly all of the $95 million affordable housing bond funds | INDY Week
County housing stability pilot serves hundreds of families and informs next steps | Cumberland County Government
Greenville makes changes to neighborhood services, planning departments | reflector.com
Nearly 200K evictions filed in NC and 3K filed in NHCO in 2025 | WWAYTV3
North Carolina’s community land trusts seek higher profile as affordable housing option | NC Newsline
Reports
Recent Research Finds Rising Down Payments—and the Need for Assistance | NC Housing Finance Agency
Housing Instability Following Medical Debt Exposure Among US Adults, 2023 to 2025 | Journal of the American Medical Association
This nationally representative cohort study of 1515 US adults estimated that any medical debt was associated with a 7–percentage point increase in the probability of experiencing housing instability in the subsequent year.
Bridging the Missing Middle: What Americans Say About Housing and Affordability | NeighborWorks America
95% of Americans say affordability is an important aspect of housing to them, personally and 92% of Americans say proximity to essential services (such as grocery stores, a post office, healthcare facilities, etc.) is important to them.
Events
Renew NC Information Session | January 21, 1pm
ReNew NC is hosting a virtual information session tomorrow, Wednesday, January 21 at 1 p.m. to provide an overview of the Small Rental Rehabilitation program and answer questions from potential applicants. This program helps eligible landlords repair, reconstruct, or replace small rental properties (1- 4 units) damaged by Hurricane Helene. Learn more about the qualifications and how to apply. Register for the information session here
Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC | February 9, 10am-12pm
The Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC will meet again on Monday, February 9 from 10 am – 12 pm. Click here to access the public registration link.
Housing Policy Forum & Capitol Hill Day 2026 | National Low Income Housing Coalition, March 10-13, 2026 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register here.
Just Economy Conference 2026 | National Community Reinvestment Coalition, April 14-15, 2026 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register here.
