Valerie Foushee
07/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/15/2026 07:02
Rep. Foushee Introduces Grad Student Affordable Housing Act to Help Graduate Students Access Safe, Affordable Housing
WASHINGTON, DC (July 15, 2026) - Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) introduced the Grad Student Affordable Housing Act of 2026, legislation to support graduate and professional students access to safe and affordable housing while pursuing advanced degrees.
"Graduate and professional students are essential to our universities, our communities, and our economy," said Congresswoman Foushee. "They teach classes, conduct research, support innovation, and provide critical services across our campuses and communities. Yet too many are struggling to afford stable housing while completing their degrees. The Grad Student Affordable Housing Act would ease that burden and ensure students can focus on their education, research, and service without being priced out of the communities they strengthen."
The Grad Student Affordable Housing Act would:
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Require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a program providing tenant-based housing assistance vouchers to eligible graduate students.
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Selected students would receive assistance covering 80% of the cost of the fair market value for the rental unit chosen by the student.
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Apply to students enrolled in graduate or professional programs at institutions of higher education and establishes income eligibility standards for dependent and independent students.
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The bill also allows HUD to adjust eligible income amounts to account for cost-of-living changes.
Data from the Education Data Initiative illustrates the scale of this burden: master's and doctoral students pay an average of $12,554 and $14,548 for room and board at public universities, and $15,480 and $19,180 at private institutions. These rising costs add financial pressure on students pursuing advanced degrees in fields that serve classrooms, labs, hospitals, and more.
In North Carolina's Fourth Congressional District, graduate and professional students play an indispensable role at institutions, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University, and Duke University. These students contribute to classrooms, laboratories, hospitals, public service programs, and community-based research throughout the Research Triangle, even as many face significant housing cost burdens.
"Graduate and professional students are integral to the mission of higher education. While pursuing advanced degrees, they teach, conduct research, provide patient care, and serve their communities in transformative ways. Yet the rising cost of housing continues to outpace many graduate student stipends and trainee compensation rates, creating barriers that can affect recruitment, retention, and student well-being. Expanding conversations around graduate student housing recognizes that affordable, stable housing is fundamental to educational opportunity and to sustaining the talent that will shape the future of research, healthcare, education, and public service," said Jaden R. Smith, President of the Graduate and Professional Student Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Read the full bill text here.
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