Can software cause the home button to stop working on iOS?
Apple has a Support document describing ways to reset/restart an iPhone:

Restarting your device

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red &quot;slide to power off&quot; slider appears, and then slide the slider.
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.

Resetting your device
Note: Reset your device only if you are unable to restart it.

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button together for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.