U.S. Senate Passes Housing Act Centering Shared Equity Models
Bipartisan legislation elevates community land trusts and shared equity programs to federal policy — testing whether ownership models that prioritize stewardship over speculation can operate at scale.
The U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, elevating shared equity housing models — including community land trusts — to explicit eligibility for federal funding. The legislation, led by Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), also reauthorizes the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and pilots an owner-occupied repair program.
The bill represents a rare federal acknowledgment that housing governance might require fundamentally different ownership structures. Shared equity programs, which Grounded Solutions Network has championed through its 200-plus member organizations, separate land ownership from building ownership to maintain affordability across generations — a model that treats housing as infrastructure rather than commodity.
The legislation also incentivizes local land use reform, though details remain vague. Doug Ryan, Vice President of Housing Policy at Grounded Solutions Network, noted the bill includes “many of our key priorities” while acknowledging “there is still work to be done” as it moves to reconciliation with the House. Whether federal programs can genuinely support alternative ownership models — or merely accommodate them at the margins — remains the practical test.