By: Gabriel Smith, Legislative Affairs Manager

August 10, 2026

Congress is away from Washington D.C. for August Recess and housing and community development discussions are ongoing. The House district work period runs through Sunday, August 30, and the Senate is in a state work period through September 11, with pro forma sessions scheduled during the break.

For PHAs, residents, and local housing partners, August is a useful window to connect federal funding decisions to local housing needs. FY 2027 HUD funding remains unresolved, Congress must still finalize a short-term funding path before the September 30 fiscal year deadline, and lawmakers are back home in their states and districts. Show decisionmakers at the Federal, State, and Local levels the local impact HUD programs are having by hosting them for a site visit this month.

This week also marks August Advocacy Week 2: Affordable Housing Preservation Week, with a focus on Public Housing and Project-Based Rental Assistance.

At a Glance

• Congressional status: The House and Senate are in district/state work periods.
• Funding status: The Senate passed a continuing resolution through December 11, but differences with the House-passed version still need to be resolved.
• HUD appropriations: The House Appropriations Committee has advanced its FY 2027 THUD bill; the Senate THUD bill has not yet been released.
• August Advocacy focus: Week 2 centers on preserving affordable housing through Public Housing and PBRA.
• PHA action: Use the August work period to show lawmakers what preservation funding means locally.

The DC Read

This is the part of the year when congressional process starts to affect local planning. A continuing resolution may keep federal programs operating temporarily, but does not settle larger FY 2027 HUD funding questions.

For local housers, the core issue is predictability. PHAs and assisted housing providers need funding levels that allow them to operate programs, preserve properties, plan repairs, support residents, and manage federal requirements responsibly.

August gives housing providers a practical advantage: lawmakers are closer to home. Site visits, local meetings, resident stories, and clear data can help congressional offices understand how federal housing programs work in real communities.

Why It Matters Locally

Affordable housing preservation is not abstract. It shows up in whether public housing properties can be maintained, whether capital repairs can move forward, whether PBRA communities remain stable, and whether residents can continue relying on safe, decent, affordable homes.

For PHAs, preservation funding affects day-to-day operations and long-term asset planning. For residents, it affects property conditions, housing stability, and confidence that affordable homes will remain available in their communities.

Program Notes for PHAs

FY 2027 THUD Appropriations:
The House Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2027 THUD bill on June 3 by a vote of 34 to 27. The bill now awaits further House action.

House HUD Funding Levels:
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s FY 2027 HUD appropriations tracker reports that the House THUD bill would provide HUD with $80.1 billion in gross discretionary budget authority, which is $4.1 billion below FY 2026 enacted levels but $6.6 billion above the President’s FY 2027 budget request. The tracker also notes that the bill would reduce or maintain FY 2026 funding levels for most HUD programs, including a $1.3 billion reduction to public housing.

Short-Term Funding:
The Senate passed a continuing resolution on August 8 that would fund federal agencies through December 11. The Senate and House versions differ, so Congress will still need to resolve the path forward before current funding expires on September 30.

What PHAs Can Do This Week

PHA leaders, commissioners, staff, residents, and partners should use the August district work period to highlight preservation needs in clear local terms.

Strong outreach can include:

• inviting lawmakers and staff to tour public housing properties or PBRA communities;
• showing capital needs, modernization work, or preservation challenges;
• explaining how federal funding supports property operations and resident services;
• sharing resident and staff perspectives;
• connecting preservation funding to local housing stability; and
• using NAHRO’s August Advocacy resources to contact Congress.

The most effective congressional education is specific, local, and factual.

For Residents: Why This Matters

Public Housing and PBRA help preserve affordable homes that families, seniors, people with disabilities, and local communities rely on. When these programs are funded predictably, housing providers are better able to maintain properties, complete repairs, support residents, and plan for the future.

Resident stories can help policymakers understand what housing preservation means beyond the budget line.

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