What Happened?

If you rent your home, rents have climbed faster than other living costs since 1965, and federal aid reaches only 10 to 20 percent of rental units. The nonpartisan research arm of Congress recently examined how many rental units federal programs cover. ​

Average rent prices in 2025 were 10.62 times their 1965 levels, while all other non-shelter goods and services rose just 8.68 times over the same period.

The federal government funds several programs that either pay part of a renter's monthly bill or require landlords to keep rents affordable, including the Housing Choice Voucher program, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, housing for elderly and disabled people, rural rental programs, and the Capital Magnet Fund.

The share of rental units receiving any federal support ranges from roughly 10 percent to 20 percent, depending on how much the programs overlap.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

About one-third of all U.S. households rent their homes, and demand for assisted units already far exceeds supply.

That means roughly 80 percent of renters get no federal support, even though many qualify for it.

Some federal rental programs no longer take on new units, though existing subsidized units remain. Others keep affordability rules in place even after direct subsidies or loans have ended.

Both Sides, Now

Policymakers face mounting pressure to expand federal rental assistance or production programs to close the gap between housing need and available federal resources.

Opponents argue that current programs fall far short of meeting renters' needs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that 8.46 million very low-income renter households had worst-case housing needs in 2023, virtually unchanged from 2019 through 2021, according to HUD USER. HUD defines worst-case needs as severe rent burdens or severely inadequate housing among households not receiving any assistance.

Congress controls funding for these programs through the annual spending process, and any expansion or cut would require action on Capitol Hill.

What Happens Next?

Some federal rental programs no longer assist new units, though existing subsidized units remain. For any change to take effect, both chambers would need to pass new funding levels, and the president would need to sign them into law.

No specific vote or deadline is identified in the report.

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