Tuesday, 10 November 2026
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) has called for increased federal investment in affordable housing and rental assistance following the November 2026 US midterm elections, as lawmakers prepare for changes in congressional leadership and negotiations over government funding for 2027.
The organisation, which represents major public housing authorities across the United States, said rising rents and shortages of affordable accommodation were placing continued pressure on lower-income households. It urged Congress to protect existing housing programmes and provide additional resources to help authorities meet rental assistance commitments.
The statement follows an election in which Democrats secured enough seats to take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate when the new Congress convenes in January. The change will affect the leadership of congressional committees responsible for housing policy and federal expenditure, although future funding decisions will still depend on negotiations between lawmakers and the administration.
CLPHA chief executive La Shelle Dozier said federal rental assistance arrangements had not adequately reflected increases in market rents. According to the organisation, the formulas used to determine funding for existing assistance programmes have created financial pressure for housing authorities and limited their capacity to support households seeking affordable accommodation.
One of the organisation’s principal requests is for Congress to maintain sufficient funding for the Housing Choice Voucher programme, which helps eligible households rent accommodation in the private market. CLPHA also wants additional support for public housing operating budgets to prevent funding reductions from affecting the management and maintenance of existing properties.
The organisation has separately called for the continuation of the Restore-Rebuild initiative, previously known as Faircloth-to-RAD. The programme is intended to help public housing authorities develop additional affordable homes by combining federal housing assistance mechanisms with private financing. CLPHA considers this approach important for expanding supply while making use of funding sources beyond direct public expenditure.
The proposals are relevant to developers, lenders and investors participating in affordable housing projects. Federal rental assistance and operating subsidies can influence the financial viability of developments serving lower-income households, while programmes incorporating private capital may create opportunities for partnerships with public housing authorities.
However, the election outcome does not itself establish new housing funding commitments. Congress must still determine expenditure levels and the future of individual programmes. The extent to which CLPHA’s requests are reflected in legislation will depend on the federal budget process and subsequent policy decisions.
The organisation’s intervention places rental affordability, preservation of existing public housing and the financing of new affordable homes among the issues being raised ahead of the next congressional session. For the US residential property market, the principal question will be whether future federal funding arrangements support the maintenance of existing affordable housing and the delivery of additional supply.
