Essential Advocacy Points for April 2026

Last month, NAHRO Advocates were on “The Hill” for a record-breaking Capitol Hill Day! Over 500+ Housers engaged with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to discuss key issues affecting their communities and the national landscape for affordable housing and community development funding. To learn more about our record-breaking year with region-by-region analysis, view the report on our NAHRO Hill Day page.

The Trump Administration also released its FY 27 budget proposal, officially kicking off the FY27 budget process. April represents a key moment in the annual budget process as NAHRO shares its funding recommendations with the House and Senate appropriators. NAHRO Advocates will be essential to ensuring that federal policy supports communities and housing providers nationwide.

What Happened on Capitol Hill

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Moves Forward

The Senate advanced the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a major bipartisan housing supply and affordability package.
The bill now returns to the House for consideration and potential reconciliation with House housing legislation. This will be an important step to ensure Congress produces the strongest, most effective package possible.

FY27 Federal Budget and Appropriations Process Begins

House Appropriators are reviewing member requests submitted in March, with community project funding (formerly earmarks) requests expected to be publicly posted later in April.

The Trump administration released its FY 2027 budget on April 3. Although the president’s budget is a political document and does not have the force of law, it starts the appropriations process for the year.

Why This Matters for PHAs

Funding decisions for FY27 are taking shape now. Early advocacy can influence funding levels for rental assistance, public housing operations, and capital programs.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act could reshape federal housing policy by reducing barriers to housing production, updating key housing programs, and shifting the environment for housing and community development funding.

Administrative changes at HUD may affect program operations and compliance responsibilities for PHAs.

Advocacy Action Items for NAHRO Members

Federal Level

Send a Letter: Contact Congressional offices and appropriations staff to support strong FY27 funding for HUD programs.

Send a Letter: The scale of today’s affordable housing crisis demands that we get this right. Tell your Representative to conference the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

NAHRO Storytelling: Share local examples demonstrating how federal housing programs impact your communities, agencies, residents, your work, etc. NAHRO’s Action Alert Center will direct these to federal lawmakers based on the sender’s address.

State/Local Level

• Engage mayors, county officials, and community partners to communicate local housing needs to federal lawmakers.
• Coordinate with state housing agencies and associations to highlight how federal housing investments complement state housing production strategies.
• Provide data and stories that illustrate the real-world impact of housing programs administered by PHAs.

Talking Points for Congress

NAHRO members contacting Congressional offices may wish to emphasize:

• Strong funding for HUD programs in FY27 is essential to maintain housing stability and address the national housing shortage.
• Federal programs such as HOME, Housing Choice Vouchers, and public housing investments support local economic growth and housing supply.
• Congress should advance bipartisan housing legislation that reduces barriers to building affordable housing and strengthens existing housing programs.