Housing — News & Analysis

Nearly 3.7 Million People at Risk of Losing Needed Rental Assistance to Harsh Time Limit and Work Requirement Proposal (April 24, 2026)

April 24, 2026 — A proposed rule to implement rigid two-year time limits and 40-hour weekly work requirements puts nearly 3.7 million people at risk of losing rental assistance, including more than 1.9 million children. These changes would affect major programs like Housing Choice Vouchers and Public Housing, potentially leading to a sharp increase in evictions and homelessness.

Even households that are currently employed are vulnerable; approximately 2.1 million people in working households could lose their benefits because they cannot guarantee 40 hours of work every week or have reached the arbitrary time limit. While seniors and people with disabilities are intended to be exempt, burdensome red tape and the difficulty of providing extensive documentation make it likely that many eligible individuals will still lose their housing.

Evidence from similar programs indicates that these restrictions do not increase employment or earnings. Instead, they fail to address underlying barriers like the lack of affordable childcare and transportation. Furthermore, the proposal is legally dubious, as it is widely understood that current laws do not grant the authority to impose such requirements across these programs. Rather than taking assistance away, providing more resources to bridge the gap between housing costs and low incomes is a more effective way to ensure housing stability.