Grant program

(a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a grant program to award grants to eligible program participants to assist eligible property owners with dwelling and property adaptations to increase their ability to withstand climate-driven hazards. (b) Application Eligible program participants applying for a grant under this section shall— (1) submit to the Secretary an application— (A) at such time and in such manner as the Secretary determines appropriate; and (B) containing a description of— (i) the eligible activities to be undertaken with the grant funds; (ii) how eligible program participants will prioritize eligible property owners in awarding funding based on factors that take into account varying levels of disaster risk and means; (iii) how eligible property owners awarded funding will be required to report on their use of funds; and (iv) other information, as the Secretary determines appropriate; and (2) if awarded funding under this Act, accept and process applications for funding from eligible property owners using an online system accessible on a smartphone or personal electronic device in addition to accepting and processing applications through a paper format. (c) Use of funds (1) Eligible program participants Eligible program participants— (A) shall use funds awarded under this Act to award grants to eligible property owners for resilience and adaptation activities to mitigate the impacts of climate change, including related modifications needed to maintain the existing accessibility of a property to individuals with disabilities, as the Secretary may determine after the consultation prescribed under section 5(a); (B) shall be required to conduct outreach to educate eligible property owners, regardless of whether such property owners have received funds awarded under this Act, about how they can make structural improvements to their homes and property; (C) may use up to 15 percent of funds awarded under this Act for expenses related to administering such funds and for the outreach required under subparagraph (B); (D) shall not add additional eligibility requirements that materially change who is eligible for funding under this Act or add procedural burdens that limit property owners from applying for, and receiving, funding according to rules promulgated under section 5 of this Act; (E) shall only award grants for activities related to buildings, assets, or land located in areas where climate-driven hazards are more likely to occur as a result of climate change; and (F) when awarding grants to the owner of a multifamily building— (i) may require financial participation from such owner as a condition of awarding a grant for an activity with respect to that multifamily building; (ii) in the case of projects funded under this Act that involve the displacement of a resident from any occupied housing unit, shall only award a grant on the condition that such owner— (I) provides, at the option of the resident, a suitable and habitable housing unit that is, with respect to the housing unit from which the resident is displaced— (aa) of a comparable size; (bb) located in the same local community or a community with reduced hazard risk; and (cc) offered under similar costs, conditions, and terms; and (II) ensures that resident displaced are provided with the ability to return to their former unit, or a comparable unit located in the same multifamily dwelling following the completion of the grant-funded project; and (iii) shall only award a grant on the condition that such owner refrains from— (I) raising rent on dwelling units in such multifamily building as a result of any improvements paid for by funding awarded under this Act; and (II) increasing rent on such dwelling units for any reason for at least 2 years unless specific rent increases during those 2 years were stipulated in agreements made prior to the awarding of funding under this Act to which such owner is a party. (2) Eligible property owners Eligible property owners shall use funds awarded under this Act to— (A) make changes to existing buildings or other assets as necessary to meet the purpose of the program established under this section; and (B) implement natural solutions to adapt land to changing conditions.