Sec. 203. Grants for planning and implementation associated with affordable housing
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/bill/119/hr/6644/eh/section-203A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, establish a pilot program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to assist planning and implementation activities associated with affordable housing. If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this section is a regional planning agency or consortia of regional planning agencies, such eligible entity shall use such amounts to assist planning activities with respect to affordable housing, including— the development of housing plans; the substantial improvement of State or local housing strategies; the development of new regulatory requirements and processes; updating zoning codes; increasing the capacity to conduct housing inspections; increasing the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability; the development of local or regional plans for community development; and the substantial improvement of community development strategies, including strategies designed to— increase the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing; increase access to public transportation; and advance sustainable or location-efficient community development goals.
If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this section is a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, such eligible entity shall use such amounts to— implement and administer housing strategies and housing plans; implement and administer any plans to increase housing choice, address disparities in housing needs, and provide greater access to opportunity; fund any community investments that support goals identified in a housing strategy or housing plan; implement and administer regulatory requirements and processes with respect to reformed zoning codes; increase the capacity to conduct housing inspections; increase the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability; implement and administer local or regional plans for community development; and fund any planning to increase— the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing; access to public transportation; and any location-efficient community development goals.
A eligible entity that receives amounts under this section may not use more than 10-percent of such amounts for administrative costs. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Federal Transit Administrator in carrying out this section. Expenditures on new construction of housing shall be an eligible expense under this section. Expenditures on building for the general conduct of government, other than the Federal Government, shall be eligible under this section when necessary and appropriate as a part of a natural hazard mitigation project.
After the expiration of the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary may not newly establish a pilot program as described in this section. The pilot program established under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section. In this subsection: The term eligible entity means— a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, as such terms are defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; or a regional planning agency or consortia of regional planning agencies.
The term housing plan means a plan to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an eligible entity— increase the amount of available housing to meet the demand for such housing and any projected increase in the demand for such housing; increase the affordability of housing; increase the accessibility of housing for people with disabilities, including location-efficient housing; preserve or improve the quality of housing; reduce barriers to housing development; and coordinate with transportation-related agencies.
The term housing strategy means a housing strategy required under section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.