Bill > HR5878

This bill proposes several reforms to the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, which supports affordable housing development. The bill expands the definition of eligible housing projects by introducing a new term "infill housing project" for residential developments within municipal limits on previously disturbed land. It modifies income eligibility requirements by changing references from "low-income" to families with incomes up to 100 percent of the area median income. The bill gives participating jurisdictions more flexibility in choosing housing rehabilitation methods and allows funds to be used for infrastructure improvements in non-entitlement areas, specifically for water, sewer, road, and utility connections near affordable housing. The legislation also creates exceptions for military members and heirs of homeowners in affordable housing programs, increases the homeownership qualification threshold from 95 to 110 percent, and introduces new mechanisms for maintaining long-term housing affordability. Additionally, the bill streamlines environmental review requirements by creating categorical exemptions for certain housing projects and removing duplicative review processes. The bill also includes technical amendments like updating references to specific acts and committee names, and it removes previous time limitations on drawing HOME Investment Trust Funds.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5878/all-info