Congresswoman Nikema Williams Combats Housing Crisis with Bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025

Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Representative Troy Downing (MT-02) introduced the bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025 to address the nationwide housing crisis by providing essential home repair assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners and small landlords. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) are leading the Senate companion.

High (and rising) utility bills and years of deferred maintenance have forced too many of the nation’s homeowners and renters to live with leaky or collapsed roofs, exposed wiring, mold, unsafe heating, lead paint, drafty windows, faulty plumbing, and other health and safety risks. In both urban and rural communities, weatherization and home repair programs have failed to address these problems – leading even more homes to fall into further disrepair. 2018 estimates found that there were $126.9 billion in needed repairs for substandard housing across nearly every income level.

The average home repair cost is around $3,000, and nearly 40% had repair costs of less than $1,000  – a small investment compared to the cost for new housing, but a critical need for homeowners and landlords who cannot afford that expense. These residents are often older citizens who want to age in place, new or first-time homeowners who have not yet established equity or who exhausted their savings to buy the home, and low-income individuals.

The Whole-Home Repairs Act would:

• Ensure resources reach homeowners and small landlords with the most need, providing grants to low- and moderate-income homeowners (including owner-occupants of manufactured homes) and smaller landlords who agree to fair rental practices (ensuring that benefits accrue to the community).
• Create one-stop shops to coordinate existing federal, State, and local home repair programs and assist applicants with navigating and leveraging these funding opportunities more effectively. 
• Direct HUD to prioritize applicants with plans to implement the program across entire states, as well as applicants that ensure equal resources go to rural areas.
• Permit implementing organizations to incorporate workforce training and other related programs.
• Create reporting mechanisms to ensure that resources are used effectively and fairly, and that coordinating activities reduce redundancies.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Too many families are forced to live in homes with dangerous health and safety risks because of repairs they can’t afford. This is especially true for seniors on fixed incomes struggling to stay in the homes they worked so hard to maintain. As a homeowner, I know our homes are often our first foundation of generational wealth. The Whole-Home Repair Act will help low and moderate income homeowners make the critical repairs to ensure their homes remain safe, secure, and an asset they can pass on to future generations.”

Congressman Troy Downing (MT-02) said:

“Housing availability and affordability are two of the biggest challenges facing Americans looking to build a more stable future. As home prices across the country skyrocket, it’s up to Congress to look for innovative solutions that realign supply with demand to temper rising costs. The Whole-Home Repairs Act takes a promising step in that direction by redeploying readily available resources at HUD and leveraging state, local, and federal cooperation to bolster the country’s existing stock of homes. For the Montana residential market, in which a quarter of all households are cost burdened and more than half of all parcels are characterized as being in average or worse condition, the potential for a pilot program like this knows no bounds. I appreciate Rep. Williams’ willingness to work across the aisle to help address the very real housing crisis that is affecting countless Americans. I look forward to seeing our hard work deliver real results for the Treasure State.”

“The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) thanks Representatives Williams and Downing for introducing the Whole-Home Repairs Act,” said Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President for Policy, LISC. “LISC administers home repair programs targeted to low-income homeowners and has seen firsthand the challenges these families face when trying to access resources to maintain their homes. This legislation will provide critical assistance to organizations working with underserved homeowners to ensure they live in safe and decent housing and retain what is typically their largest asset.”

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. When people cannot afford to repair their homes, ongoing issues can drive up utility bills or even force them to live in dangerous conditions,” said Shamus Roller, Executive Director of the National Housing Law Project. “The Whole Home Repairs Act would provide vital support to working families by funding essential repairs and upgrades, ensuring homes are habitable and safe. We are proud to support this bill, which not only strengthens family housing stability but also enhances community strength and resilience,” 

Endorsements: Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc., Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Towns and Townships, BPC Action, Coalition for Home Repair, Habitat for Humanity International, National Housing Law Project (NHLP), National NeighborWorks Association (NNA), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), National Community Development Association, National Association of REALTORS, and Housing Assistance Council.

Click here for the text of the Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025.