SE Nebraska News

Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Mike Flood (R-NE) and Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) have introduced the “HOME Reform Act of 2025,” which aims to update the HOME Investment Partnerships Program managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Chairman Flood stated, “America is in the midst of a housing crisis as families struggle to live the American dream due to the of a shortage of millions of homes. The HOME program is a federal program that builds housing supply, but it has previously been weighed down by regulatory burdens that make it hard to build housing. Thanks to the insights of those who work directly with HOME, and the invaluable teamwork of my colleague Ranking Member Cleaver, I believe the HOME Reform Act of 2025 will cut the red tape that has been holding this program back. The reforms in this legislation will result in more homebuilding across the country as we work to tackle our nation’s housing shortage. From Columbus, Nebraska to Columbus, Ohio and beyond, local communities will have an unprecedented opportunity to build affordable homes and directly address the housing crisis gripping our nation. I look forward to working to pass this legislation with broad bipartisan support."

Ranking Member Cleaver added, “Americans in every community are struggling to stay afloat financially due to the high cost of housing, which is limiting opportunities for families to get ahead and weighing down local economies. This is a crisis that demands immediate bipartisan action to lower costs, and I’m pleased to join Chairman Flood in the effort to provide relief nationwide. By revamping and revitalizing the HOME Program—one of our greatest tools to expand the supply of affordable housing for working-class families—we can ensure that affordable housing and the American Dream of homeownership are once again attainable from the heartland to the coasts. After months of meetings and hearings with local leaders, housing stakeholders, and American families from across the country, I’m proud to introduce the Home Reform Act with Chairman Flood to lower housing costs in Missouri and beyond.”

This legislation marks the first major reform since 1990 when HOME was created under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. It seeks greater flexibility for states and local governments while reducing regulatory barriers in order to support both new development and preservation efforts for affordable homes.

The proposal follows several months of bipartisan collaboration between Flood and Cleaver. In April they issued a joint request for feedback on both HOME and CDBG programs; by July their subcommittee held a hearing titled “HOME 2.0: Modern Solutions to the Housing Shortage.”

The act aims at streamlining regulations so public-private partnerships can play a larger role in building more homes and rental properties—measures intended ultimately to reduce overall housing costs.

A range of organizations have endorsed this bill including national groups focused on affordable housing such as Habitat for Humanity International, National Association of Realtors (NAR), Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), National Apartment Association (NAA), National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), among others.

Mike Flood has represented Nebraska’s First Congressional District since 2022 after replacing Jeff Fortenberry (source). He previously served in Nebraska’s state legislature from 2007 until 2013 here. Born in Omaha in 1975, he now lives in Norfolk here, having earned his BA from Notre Dame in 1997 followed by a JD from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2001.

Emanuel Cleaver represents Missouri's Fifth Congressional District including Kansas City areas; he serves as Ranking Member on this House subcommittee.