Housing Our Communities Act

The Housing Our Communities Act would direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a competitive grant program to support planning and implementation activities tied to affordable housing. The program would help states, cities, urban counties, and regional planning agencies strengthen housing plans, update zoning codes, increase inspection capacity, reduce barriers to housing supply, and better coordinate housing with transportation and community development goals. Grants could facilitate faster housing inspections to reduce delays and costs, planning that increases access to public transportation and economic opportunities, and strategies that improve accessibility for people with disabilities or advance sustainable development. The bill aims to ensure that rising housing demand results in more homes being built, rather than higher prices for families already stretched thin amidst the affordability crisis. This bill is currently referred to committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.