One of the biggest barriers to economic prosperity for America’s lowest-income families is the lack of decent, accessible, and affordable homes. Research shows that when people have a stable, decent, and accessible home that they can afford, they are better able to find employment, achieve economic mobility, age in place, perform better in school, and maintain improved health.
Federal rental assistance programs help more than 10 million people — overwhelmingly families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, full-time caregivers, and workers paid low wages — remain housed. Rental assistance is a vital tool to combat the affordable housing crisis, helping families afford the cost of rent and freeing up more income for other necessities, like nutritious food, medical care, transportation, and school supplies.
Proposals to limit access to federal housing benefits would leave even more low-income people without a stable home, making it harder for them to climb the economic ladder and live with dignity. Congress should reject proposals like work requirements and time limits that decrease access to housing assistance and instead enact proven solutions that help struggling families earn more and get ahead. This starts with expanding—not slashing—programs that help families keep a safe, stable roof over their heads.
HUD Proposed Rule: Time Limits and Work Requirements
On March 2, HUD proposed allowing public housing agencies (PHAs) and HUD-assisted owners to impose work requirements and time limits on assisted families. If implemented, such policies will lead to more families and children experiencing eviction and homelessness, with people of color at greater risk.
Under the proposal, millions risk losing their assistance if they exceed strict time limits, cannot meet harsh work requirements, or struggle to meet burdensome new reporting requirements. According to a July 2025 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis, a 2-year time limit in HUD programs (specifically, public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and project-based rental assistance) would result in an estimated 3.3 million people losing their rental assistance.
While this proposal itself would not require adoption of these policies, HUD’s proposed changes would allow states to mandate time limits and/or work requirements.
Take Action
Submit your own comment, urging HUD to withdraw the proposed rule. The comment deadline is May 1 at 11:59 pm ET.
Use NLIHC’s comment template, tailored to your unique perspective, to elaborate on the harms of the proposal.
Archived Resources
Factsheet: Cutting housing assistance is a bad deal for women and families