Sponsors (15)
Introduced January 14, 2026 by Nanette Barragán · Last progress January 14, 2026
The bill substantially expands federal support for reentry housing and access (rent subsidies, stabilization services, accessibility requirements) for people leaving incarceration, while increasing federal spending and imposing allocation caps and applicant restrictions that may limit program flexibility and landlord participation.
Low-income and formerly incarcerated people gain expanded reentry housing and supportive services via a $100 million/year federal program that offers up to 24 months of rental assistance plus at least 12 months of housing stabilization and case-management/counseling, reducing immediate housing instability and risk of homelessness.
The program prioritizes housing-first, low-barrier models and directs resources to populations disproportionately at risk, improving equity of access for high-need groups.
Clarifying that halfway houses and other non-prison facilities are covered helps state and local governments design and target grant-funded reentry programs to reach people exiting non-prison settings.
$100 million per year in new federal spending increases budgetary outlays and could crowd out other priorities or add to deficits.
Requiring at least 60% of grant funds be used for rental assistance restricts grantees' flexibility to allocate more funding to supportive services that address underlying needs, which may weaken long-term outcomes.
Capping landlord incentives at 15% of funds may reduce landlords' willingness to rent to formerly incarcerated people in tight rental markets, limiting housing placement options.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal grant program providing up to 24 months of rental assistance and housing services to people who are or were incarcerated, authorized at $100M/year.
Creates a new federal grant program to help people who are incarcerated or recently released obtain and keep housing, and updates existing reentry program language to use person-centered terms and explicitly include halfway houses. The grant program funds up to 24 months of rental assistance, housing-related supports (case management, move-in help, deposits, landlord incentives, etc.), sets applicant and use rules, requires accessibility and plain-language materials, prohibits awarding to law enforcement entities, and authorizes $100 million per year to carry out the program.