The Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act, a bipartisan bill introduced August 6, 2026, aims to combat the national affordable housing crisis by allowing local communities to lease United States Postal Service property for new construction. The legislation seeks to provide the Postal Service with new revenue streams to address financial constraints while increasing housing availability in high-demand areas.
Legislative Framework and Protections
The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and John Curtis of Utah, would permit the leasing of underutilized Postal Service property for housing development. According to a press release from Senator Van Hollen's office, the bill includes provisions that prohibit the sale of Postal Service assets and ensures the agency maintains discretion over its real estate holdings.
Affordability and Property Holdings
To ensure affordability, the bill requires that at least 20% of the housing units constructed on Postal Service property include tenant affordability restrictions. The United States Postal Service currently owns approximately 8,500 properties across the United States, many of which are located in areas suitable for residential development.
Potential Economic Impact
Proponents suggest the bill could significantly impact the national housing market. A recent analysis from Brookings indicated that housing construction on postal property could result in more than 200,000 new homes and generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the Postal Service.
Bipartisan Support and Goals
Senator Curtis, a representative of Utah, stated that the legislation is a commonsense approach to helping Utah's need for more housing and the Postal Service's need for new revenue. The bill has received support from various stakeholders, including the Bipartisan Policy Center Action and the National Housing Crisis Task Force.
Addressing Housing Shortages
The initiative seeks to leverage existing federal land to address the housing shortage. By turning underused sites and parking lots into residential spaces, the bill aims to increase housing supply in areas where demand is highest while shoring up the financial stability of the Postal Service.
Local and Federal Context
While the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office maintains dedicated divisions for economic development and community development, the federal legislative effort focuses on the repurposing of federal postal assets to meet broader national housing needs.
