# Summary of S. 5027 — ROAD to Housing Act
This legislation aims to increase affordable housing access and help vulnerable populations through several interconnected reforms. The bill strengthens housing counseling programs by establishing competency standards for counselors and requiring that borrowers 60 days delinquent on federally-backed mortgages receive foreclosure mitigation counseling. It encourages lending to lower-income borrowers by reducing regulatory barriers for small dollar mortgages (under $70,000) and requiring the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to update lending rules within nine months to make originating these smaller loans more profitable for lenders.
The bill significantly expands and reforms the Moving to Work program, converting it from a limited demonstration to an ongoing program that allows at least 25 public housing agencies per year to participate, with priority given to smaller rural agencies. It requires increased transparency through annual public reporting and testimony from housing officials before Congress, and mandates monthly reporting on the Federal Housing Administration's insurance fund health. The legislation creates financial incentives for communities that demonstrably reduce homelessness and prioritizes federal housing grants to qualified opportunity zones. Additionally, it updates the definition of manufactured homes to include units without permanent chassis and requires states to treat such homes equally under state financing, tax, and insurance laws, establishing a compliance deadline for state certifications.
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