This bill, titled the Ending Homelessness Act of 2025, establishes a comprehensive framework to eliminate homelessness in the United States by reforming housing assistance, introducing new funding, and addressing systemic barriers. A cornerstone is the substantial expansion and transformation of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, with appropriations for 500,000 incremental vouchers in fiscal year 2025 and 1,000,000 more from 2026 through 2028. Crucially, starting in fiscal year 2029, the bill establishes the HCV program as an entitlement, ensuring all eligible families receive assistance.

Eligibility for the entitlement program will gradually expand, beginning with extremely low-income families in 2029 and extending to low-income families by 2033. The bill also mandates the use of Small Area Fair Market Rents, allows public housing agencies to use vouchers for security deposits, and repeals certain ineligibility criteria for housing assistance to remove barriers for those most in need.

To combat housing discrimination, the bill amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on "source of income." This broad definition includes housing vouchers, social security benefits, court-ordered payments, and other forms of governmental or non-governmental financial assistance. Significant appropriations are authorized for fair housing enforcement and a national media campaign to raise public awareness of these expanded rights.

The bill allocates substantial direct appropriations to address unmet needs and support homeless populations. It provides $1 billion annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029 for emergency relief grants, requiring at least 75 percent of these funds for permanent supportive housing. These grants prioritize jurisdictions that adopt local policies promoting affordable housing and decriminalizing homelessness, and mandate the implementation of a Housing First model.

Additionally, $100 million annually is appropriated for outreach grants to fund staff connecting homeless individuals with services. The bill also injects $1 billion annually into the Housing Trust Fund for five years, prioritizing homeless persons for occupancy in assisted units and capping tenant rent contributions at 30 percent of adjusted income. Furthermore, $20 million is made available for technical assistance to align health and housing systems, particularly integrating Medicaid with supportive housing initiatives, prioritizing areas with high chronic homelessness.

The legislation permanently authorizes appropriations for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act grants and permanently extends the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. It also clarifies eligibility for private nonprofit and faith-based organizations for funding, reinforcing a long-term commitment to ending homelessness.