Definitions

In this Act: (1) Area median income The term area median income means median income for an area, as such term is used in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)), median family income, and any other substantively similar metric that the Secretary uses to refer to the median income level for a given area or jurisdiction for purposes of any program administered by the Secretary. (2) High housing cost adjustment The term high housing cost adjustment is an adjustment for high housing costs, high construction costs, or high costs of living, or any substantively similar adjustment that the Secretary may use to increase income limits for areas where the cost of housing is abnormally high compared to the median income for such area. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (4) Mountain communities The term mountain communities means any rural area, as defined in section 1490 of title 42, United States Code, located in the Mountain Division within the Census Bureau’s Western Region.