PATH Act

Key Points

• This bill lets local housing agencies and owners of subsidized buildings set work requirements for tenants receiving federal housing assistance, with a cap of 40 hours per week. The goal is to boost workforce participation among people living in public housing or using housing vouchers.
• Several groups are exempt from the work rules, including seniors over 62, children under 18, people with disabilities, pregnant women, caregivers of young children under 6, caregivers of dependents with serious medical conditions, and college students.
• Tenants can fulfill the work requirement through many activities beyond a traditional job, including job search, vocational training, community service, on-the-job training, and working toward a high school diploma or GED.
• Housing agencies that adopt these rules must offer supportive services to help tenants find jobs, give tenants at least 3 months written notice before the rules kick in, and create a hardship policy for people struggling to comply.
• Tenants who fail to meet the work requirements without a valid exemption or hardship could lose their housing assistance entirely. Enforcement must happen at least once a year, and any termination must follow federal regulations.
• The law would take effect on January 1, 2027, and only applies to housing agencies and owners that are in good standing, meaning they are not in receivership or designated as troubled performers.