The Senate advanced the bipartisan “ROAD to Housing Act” (S. 2651) to the “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA, S. 2296), which passed the Senate with a vote of 77-22.
As noted by the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), since this was incorporated into NDAA, the next step is for the Senate and the House of Representatives to attempt to reconcile differences between their respective defense authorization bills. To help shape a house counterpart to this bill that could inform negotiations, the Financial Services Committee is expected to consider its own housing legislation during a markup scheduled for October 28-29 (though this may be delayed due to the government shutdown).
Earlier this year, Rebuild Upstate CEO, Jake Beaty, met with Senator Tim Scott’s office to discuss the Whole Home Repairs Act—a bill designed to help families keep their homes safe and livable.
He shared the story of Ms. Catherine, a longtime Greenville resident and widow of a U.S. Air Force veteran. After years of caring for others, she needed critical repairs she couldn’t afford and no longer had her husband’s help to do the work. With community support, we were able to secure funds and mobilize volunteers to ensure her home remained safe.
That’s why this legislation matters. It would create a five-year national pilot program offering grants and forgivable loans for low-income homeowners to make essential repairs. You can check out Bipartisan Policy Center’s helpful explainer of the full legislation here.
Good news: the Whole Home Repairs Act has now been included in the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, a bipartisan housing package led by South Carolina’s own Senator Tim Scott and hailed as a historic step forward in federal housing policy. The ROAD to Housing Act was included as an amendment to the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed 77-22 on a 10/10 vote.
This is a significant victory for those of us working to ensure that every family has a safe, healthy, and affordable home. It’s also a clear sign that home repair and rehabilitation are no longer afterthoughts, but central to the housing conversation.
But this progress only becomes reality with your support. Here’s how you can help:
- Thank Senator Tim Scott for his leadership and ask how you can help move the bill forward.
- Urge your U.S. House Representative to include the amendment in the House NDAA.
- Call, write, or email to share your own story of why home repair matters. Personal experiences carry more weight than form letters.
Showing up for our neighbors doesn’t stop when repairs are done. Showing up means ensuring key funding so neighbors have access to repairs for years to come.