WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) have introduced the Whole-Home Repairs Act. Inspired by the success of Pennsylvania’s own Whole-Home Repairs Program, this new legislation seeks to establish a nationwide pilot scheme aimed at aiding homeowners in carrying out vital home repairs.
Fetterman and Lummis’ Whole-Home Repairs Act addresses the challenge of housing shortage, a pressing issue in the country. The circumstance of unaffordable repairs has been leading to an escalating slide of habitable homes into disrepair, thereby deepening the housing crisis. The proposed law aims to tackle this issue by helping families keep their homes in good condition.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act offers an efficient solution. It will establish a one-stop-shop to ensure that funds allocated through existing housing programs are utilized effectively. By doing so, it amplifies the impact of each dollar spent by providing a greater number of families with the necessary resources to maintain and repair their homes.
The Act is borne out of the successful Whole-Homes program in Pennsylvania, which, as Senator Fetterman highlighted, is a practical example of how government action can tangibly improve lives. It’s an effort to take this successful local program to the federal level, offering assistance to families across the nation.
The problem that this legislation aims to rectify is a pressing one. Many homeowners and renters have had to tolerate problematic living conditions due to the high costs of repairs and utilities. Leaky roofs, faulty wiring, health hazards like mold and lead paint, and inefficient plumbing are just a few challenges that people have been forced to live with.
Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs program, enacted in 2022, was a bipartisan response to this problem. It offered a one-stop solution for home repairs, weatherization, and adaptations for older residents or people with disabilities. The program’s success story, marked by the support it received from 95% of Pennsylvania counties, underscored the widespread nature of the problem.
Senator Fetterman has previously highlighted the success of Pennsylvania’s Whole-Homes Program at Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Development hearings. His advocacy has emphasized how this approach could help tackle the housing shortage and make a substantial difference in the overlooked communities across Pennsylvania.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act has won endorsements from organizations as diverse as the Housing Affordability Council, National NeighborWorks Association, LISC, Habitat for Humanity, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, People’s Action, and the National Association of Towns and Townships. This broad base of support underscores its potential to make a significant, nationwide impact.
This is not just about home repairs. This is about transforming communities, fostering affordability, and ensuring that homes are not just structures but safe, secure spaces. Leveraging the success of the Whole-Homes program in Pennsylvania, the Whole-Home Repairs Act seeks to empower homeowners across America, bringing about a comprehensive change in the housing sphere.
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