The U.S. House this week passed two bills led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) aimed at strengthening eviction protections and helping families receiving federal housing assistance build long-term financial stability. The measures — the Eviction Helpline Act and the Helping More Families Save Act — advanced as part of the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act.
Pressley said the legislation responds to a worsening housing crisis affecting families nationwide.
“The housing crisis is burdening folks across the country, and it is past time that our laws reflect the basic necessity of a safe, affordable, stable home,” Pressley said. “For those who know how destabilizing evictions can be, or who are burdened by the weight of financial inequity and insecurity, this legislation is for you.”
The Eviction Helpline Act would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish and promote a national hotline connecting households to eviction-related assistance before a formal eviction filing occurs. Supporters say early intervention can help tenants access legal aid, rental assistance, or mediation services, reducing the risk of displacement.
The Helping More Families Save Act would modernize and expand HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency program, which supports low-income families with financial literacy training, job coaching, and childcare resources. The program allows participants to build savings as their earned income rises, helping them transition toward greater economic independence.
During committee consideration of the broader housing package, Pressley pointed to eviction pressures in communities such as Randolph in Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District and highlighted the success of the Family Self-Sufficiency program in her state.
A member of the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, Pressley has made housing stability a cornerstone of her legislative agenda. In recent years, she has backed measures to expand tenant protections, address appraisal bias, secure federal funding for affordable housing developments, and push for eviction moratoriums during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The passage of the two bills marks the latest step in Pressley’s ongoing effort to frame housing as a human right and expand federal tools to keep families safely housed.
