Nunn Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Affordable Housing Access for College Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Greg Landsman (OH-01) today introduced the Campus Housing Affordability Act , bipartisan legislation to help low-income students afford safe and stable housing while pursuing a college degree.

"College should be about learning and earning a degree, not worrying about where you're going to sleep at night," said Rep. Nunn . "Housing insecurity undermines academic success, increases the risk of dropping out, and puts a higher education out of reach for too many students. This bipartisan bill gives every student a fair shot at success-regardless of their background or ZIP code."

Nearly 48 percent of college students nationwide experience housing insecurity, forcing many to miss class or fall behind academically due to unstable living conditions. Among affected students, a majority report missing academic opportunities because of housing challenges, and 81 percent say they would perform better academically if they had access to safe, reliable housing.

"We can make college way more affordable, and this bill does that for countless Americans," said Rep. Landsman . "In fact, this will be transformative for students who have been historically left out and marginalized. Campus housing is an enormous expense for students, and our bill eliminates that expense for students who are eligible for housing vouchers."

Housing instability impacts Iowa students long before they reach college. This year alone, more than 550 Des Moines Public Schools students are living in shelters or temporary housing. Without targeted action, many will carry that instability into higher education, where housing costs continue to rise and affordable options remain limited.

The Campus Housing Affordability Act would:

• Allow students with Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to apply them toward campus housing;
• Ensure HUD vouchers used for student housing are not counted as income, preventing students from being disqualified from additional forms of financial aid; and
• Expand access to on-campus communities and student support systems proven to improve retention and graduation rates.

Text of the bill can be found here .