HELP Act of 2026

The Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act of 2026 aims to address the national eviction crisis by increasing transparency and providing resources for at-risk renters. The bill would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a comprehensive database to track eviction data, including the reasons for eviction, demographic information of tenants, and whether they had legal representation. This data would be used to help policymakers understand and address the root causes of housing instability while maintaining tenant privacy.

To directly assist citizens, the legislation proposes a grant program to provide free legal assistance to low-income tenants facing eviction. It also aims to protect the long-term financial health of renters by amending the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit credit reporting agencies from including most eviction-related information or past-due rent on consumer credit reports. Additionally, the bill would require landlords to provide tenants with information about their rights and available resources at the time of lease signing and when an eviction is initiated.