Congress·In Committee·H.R. 4385

Congress proposes housing voucher pilot to help 5,000 families save rent increases in escrow

Helping More Families Save Act

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Creates a new test program to help some families using housing help save money as their earnings go up.
Housing agencies and some private owners could be picked (up to 25 total) to set up escrow savings accounts for up to 5,000 families.
When a family’s income rises and their rent goes up, the rent increase amount would be put into an interest-paying escrow account instead of being “lost.”
Families generally can take the money after they stop getting welfare help and after 5 years (or sooner for approved goals like training, or if they leave housing help).
Families can opt out at any time, and their housing help can’t be delayed, denied, or ended for joining or refusing the pilot.

HousingEconomyTaxes

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(3)

Housing Assistance

Helps

Child Tax Credit

Helps

Renter

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jul 14, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Jul 14, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

No later than 18 months after the bill becomes law

HUD selects up to 25 housing providers to run the pilot

Some public housing agencies and certain Section 8 property owners will be chosen; if your housing provider is selected, you may be offered enrollment information and an opt-out choice.

Within 6 months after a provider is selected

Selected providers set up interest-bearing escrow accounts for enrolled families

If you’re enrolled, you should get a notice explaining how rent changes link to escrow deposits and how to opt out before the account is opened.

After the pilot starts at your housing provider

Families can recertify income more than once per year (at least annually)

If your pay changes often, you may be able to report it more frequently, which can change rent calculations and the escrow deposit amount sooner.

About 5 years after your escrow account is established (with some earlier exceptions)

First major withdrawal window opens for many families

Typically, you can withdraw escrow (including interest) once you stop receiving welfare assistance and at/after 5 years from when your account was opened, unless you qualify for an earlier approved goal or a “good cause” exception.

About 7 years after your escrow account is established (if you continue)

Optional extended participation period ends

If you choose to stay in after year 5, the latest normal time to withdraw based on continued participation would be around year 7 after your account opened.

No later than 8 years after HUD selects the pilot providers

HUD releases a public outcomes study and report to Congress

The report could influence whether Congress expands, changes, or ends the approach nationally. Families may see rule changes later based on what the study finds.

10 years after the bill becomes law

Pilot authority ends

After the end date, no new participation would be expected under this pilot authority, though existing accounts would depend on how HUD winds down the program and what Congress does next.