Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2026

Increased funding for high-cost areas: The bill authorizes $5,000,000,000 annually for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035 for the Home Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants, and the Housing Trust Fund, provided they are used in jurisdictions with a high housing cost adjustment (Section 2).

Improved affordability through better metrics: The Secretary is required to assess alternative methods, such as calculating income on a ZIP Code level basis, to make housing more affordable for low-income families in urban areas (Section 3(a), Section 3(b)(4)).

Targeted relief for urban housing crises: The assessment process includes reviewing the impacts of the affordable housing crisis in urban areas, specifically targeting jurisdictions where high housing cost adjustments are applied (Section 3(b)(2)).

Potential for housing reform: The bill directs the Secretary to provide recommendations on how to reform or eliminate the use of area median income to better serve low-income and middle-class families (Section 3(b)(7)).