Across America, law enforcement officers are being priced out of the very communities they are sworn to protect. Rising housing costs, combined with stagnant wages in many jurisdictions, have created a growing crisis in recruitment, retention, and community-based policing. That is why Police Officers’ Defense Coalition strongly supports the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act of 2025 (H.R. 209 / S.9784) – a bipartisan solution designed to make homeownership a reality for first responders and those who serve our communities. 

This legislation was reintroduced in March 2025 and is being led in the House by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. John Rutherford (R- FL05), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D- NJ12), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R- NY02), and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D- NJ05). And in the Senate, this legislation is led by another strong bipartisan group: Sen. Ashley Moody (R- FL), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). 

This bipartisan coalition reflects broad recognition that supporting first responders is not a partisan issue—it is a national priority. 

House Co-Sponsors

• Rep. Daniel Meuser (R-PA-9)
• Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)
• Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-21)
• Rep. David Valadao (R-CA-22)
• Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA-3)
• Rep. William Keating (D-MA-9)
• Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24)
• Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7)
• Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA-20)

Senate Co-Sponsors

• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
• Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
• Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
• Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
• Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
• Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID)
• Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
• Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
• Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
• Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
• Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
• Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
• Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV)
• Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)
• Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
• Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
• Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
• Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)
• Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

What the HELPER Act Does

The HELPER Act creates a specialized Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage program that eliminates one of the biggest barriers to homeownership:

• No down payment requirement
• No monthly mortgage insurance premium
• A one-time upfront insurance cost to maintain program stability

This program is specifically designed for Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, and teachers. By removing these financial barriers, the HELPER Act helps ensure that officers can live where they work, strengthening both public safety and community trust.

Why This Legislation Matters

Police departments across the country are facing a recruitment and retention crisis. And one of the key challenges is that it is becoming increasingly common that Officers often cannot afford to live in the communities they serve. As law enforcement leaders have noted, when officers are forced to commute long distances community engagement declines, response times can be impacted, and retention becomes more difficult

The HELPER Act directly addresses this issue by making homeownership more accessible—providing departments with a powerful tool to recruit and retain officers while strengthening neighborhoods.

In today’s deeply divided political climate, the HELPER Act stands out as a rare and meaningful bipartisan success story—bringing together Republicans and Democrats, as well as a broad coalition of stakeholders who recognize the urgent need to support those who serve our communities. This legislation has earned strong backing not only from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, but also from national law enforcement organizations, firefighter and EMS associations, and education advocates who all understand the critical role stable housing plays in recruitment, retention, and community engagement. By uniting these diverse voices around a shared goal, the HELPER Act demonstrates that supporting first responders and public servants is not a partisan issue, but a national priority. Its growing list of endorsements from major organizations representing police officers and first responders further underscores both the widespread support for the bill and the real-world impact it is poised to deliver if enacted.

Police Officer Defense Coalition continues to work diligently on Capitol Hill to advocate for this bill, but we can’t do it alone! Contact your House Representative and Senators today and urge them to support and pass the HELPER Act (H.R. 209 / S.9784)! A simple call, email, or message can make a difference.

Stand with law enforcement. Contact your elected officials today and demand action on the HELPER Act.

The Police Officers’ Defense Coalition was formed to advocate for police officers, public safety officers, sheriffs, and those representing the law enforcement community to fight against the “War on Cops.” For more information, visit https://policeofficersdefensecoalition.com/