Washington, DC – Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) reintroduced the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, which would create an additional 250,000 housing vouchers specifically designed for low-income families with young children to expand their access to well resourced neighborhoods with high-performing schools, strong job prospects, and other opportunities. This legislation would significantly reduce homelessness among families with young children, as well as substantially decrease the number of children growing up in areas of concentrated poverty. This policy solution has been championed by the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, which worked with the bill’s sponsors to get the concept introduced into legislation.
The legislation prioritizes these new vouchers for low-income pregnant women and families with children under age 6 who either have a recent history of homelessness or housing instability, or live in an area of concentrated poverty (or are at risk of being displaced from an opportunity area). These vouchers would be coupled with counseling and services that have a proven track record of supporting parents and helping families move out of neighborhoods of concentrated poverty.
Research shows that when children in poor families grow up in neighborhoods with low poverty, quality schools, and low crime, they are significantly more likely to attend college, less likely to become single parents, and more likely to earn dramatically more as adults over the course of their lifetimes. They also experience better health outcomes including a reduction in asthma symptoms.This helps break cycles of generational poverty and produces a positive taxpayer return. Research also shows that low-income students perform better academically and close achievement gaps faster when housing assistance enables them to live stably in well resourced neighborhoods with lower-poverty schools.
“Ensuring children grow up in a safe and secure home is one of the best ways we can support their success. That’s why we need to do more to make sure every family has access to an affordable place to live – and what’s more, we need to ensure affordable housing is available in neighborhoods with strong schools and good-paying jobs. As we work to expand affordable housing nationwide and increase economic mobility for all families, this bipartisan bill will boost access to housing vouchers that have already served as an effective and immediate solution – giving more parents the ability to afford a home in the location that best serves their family,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable home and reach their full potential,” said Senator Young. “Research has shown that children who move from high-poverty areas to neighborhoods with greater opportunity at a young age can see significantly higher earnings later in life. Our bipartisan legislation will give families facing homelessness and housing instability more choices about where they live, helping more children access strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities to succeed.”
WHAT CAMPAIGN LEADERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FAMILY STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY VOUCHERS ACT
“The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) commends Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) for their leadership in reintroducing the “Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act,” bipartisan legislation that expands access to stable housing and high-opportunity neighborhoods for families with young children,” said Renee M. Willis, president and CEO of National Low Income Housing Coalition. “Safe, affordable housing is essential to quality of life, supporting educational attainment, economic mobility, and health outcomes. The “Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act” represents an important step toward advancing housing stability, providing 250,000 additional vouchers to help families with young children secure affordable housing in communities of their choice.”
“Starting from the earliest years of our lives, the neighborhoods we live in shape our health, education, and economic opportunities. For millions of children across the country, housing instability can mean struggling in school, experiencing poorer health, and having fewer opportunities for economic mobility into adulthood. Decades of research show us that when children have stable homes in well-resourced communities, they have better outcomes and greater opportunities to thrive. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act translates that evidence into a cost-effective solution. The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign is proud to champion this legislation and for its promise to give more children the stability and opportunity they deserve.” – Chantelle Wilkinson, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Campaigns at the National Low Income Housing Coalition
“Safe, stable, and affordable housing is foundational to child health. Our research has consistently shown that when families struggle with unstable housing, young children face greater risk of poor health and developmental delays,” said Dr. Megan Sandel, pediatrician, and Co-Lead Principal Investigator for Children’s HealthWatch. “The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would give more families with young children the stability and choice they need to find an affordable home in a well-resourced neighborhood where their children can thrive. Investing in housing stability during the earliest years of life is an investment in children’s health, development, and opportunity for the future.”
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable home and a community where they can thrive. More than 200,000 Maryland renter households have extremely low incomes, and our state faces a shortage of over 132,000 affordable and available homes for these families. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would make a meaningful investment in families with young children while expanding access to strong schools, quality childcare, and other essential resources. We thank Sen. Van Hollen for his leadership and urge Congress to move this important bipartisan legislation forward,” said Benjamin Orr, President and CEO of the Maryland Center on Economic Policy
“Prosperity Indiana applauds Senator Young and Senator Van Hollen for reintroducing the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act,” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. “If passed into law, this legislation would help to address Indiana’s housing affordability crisis. As of 2026, Indiana is tied for the lowest rate of housing supply in the Midwest that is affordable and available to the state’s lowest-income renters. 74% of those vulnerable households spend half or more of their incomes to afford housing, turning any small financial emergency into a risk of homelessness. Meanwhile, the median wage of all occupations in Indiana no longer pays enough to meet the housing wage needed to afford rent for a modest two-bedroom home. This legislation is an important step to providing housing and economic opportunity for all Hoosier and American families.”
Read the press release from Senator Van Hollen here.
Read the fact sheet here.
Read the bill text here.