History of the Law
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is the result of the largest bipartisan housing effort since the Housing and Development Act of 1968. The legislation is the response of the nation’s congressional representatives to the grim housing outlook Americans have been facing for decades. Arizona Rep. French Hill introduced the bill to the House of Representatives on December 11th, 2025 and it was then referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. Following deliberations in the House and Senate, the bill was passed and placed on the President’s desk on June 29th, where it remained unsigned, protesting Senate Republicans’ failure in passing a voting restriction bill, until it automatically became law without his signature on July 11th, 2026. The bill included many important changes to housing programs, including an important update to federal disaster relief through changes to the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program guidelines.
Anticipated Impacts of 21st Century ROAD to Housing on Disaster Relief
CDBG-Disaster Recovery Program
Federal disaster responses have been hindered by an outdated law and lack of planning. The previous law was limiting because it requires Congress to write new program rules for each individual CDBG-DR grant authorization. In response to critique, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to correct these known flaws by establishing a three-year authorization for CDBG-DR, bypassing the need for Congressional action for each grant authorization and allowing funding to reach the hands of those impacted with greater speed. Additionally, the law establishes the Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency to administer the program within HUD. Through these program reforms, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to better address the needs of low and moderate income individuals, households, families, and businesses impacted by natural disasters.
What the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Means for Missouri
Many Missourians may remember the Great Flood of 1993, Joplin Tornado of 2011, Branson Tornado of 2012, or St. Louis Tornado of 2025. In response to the 2011 Joplin tornado, CDBG-DR provided $110 million in funding to the area. As mentioned, CDBG-DR funds have only been accessible via congressional approval which can take months, years, or may never come at all. For instance, in January of 2025, Congress allocated $12 billion in funding for disasters occurring in 2023 and 2024. St. Louis, in the wake of the May 2025 tornado, has yet to receive CDBG-DR funding. CDBG-DR’s required congressional approval has made Missourians living in the estimated 5,000 homes damaged by the tornado wait for vital funding. The updates to CDBG-DR’s funding structure remove Congressional approval for three years, aiming to expedite the slow process.
Also contained within the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act are provisions to support small and rural communities. Many will be quick to remember major storms like Joplin or St. Louis, but every year the lives and housing of Missourians are impacted by severe flooding, tornadoes, ice storms, and other natural disasters that won’t make national news. The changes to the CDBG-DR aim to make funding more readily available and accessible to rural and small communities, and low to moderate income families. Additionally, provisions are included in the law to exempt builds in rural communities from environmental review requirements, expediting CBDG-DR and HUD response to the 1.8 million Missourians who live in those communities.
Closing Remarks
While the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a win and will benefit Americans, it will not bring the sweeping housing reform Americans have been begging for. This is the single largest, most comprehensive piece of housing legislation since the Housing and Development Act of 1986, but in no way does it hold a candle to the reform provided then. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, like the Housing and Development Act before it, proves that when our voices are loud and our actions brazen, our legislators cannot help but serve the needs of the people. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act IS a win, but it is also a lesson to us, the American people, to keep the pressure up and to not settle for what they give us, but to demand more. Let this victory be an inspiration to us all to remain active, engaged, and organized.
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