Accelerating home building grant program

(a) In general The Secretary may establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities to review designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing and designate such reviewed designs to be included in pattern books for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity. (b) Restriction Amounts awarded under this section may not be used for construction, alteration, or repair work. (c) Considerations In reviewing applications submitted by eligible entities for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider— (1) the need for affordable housing in the eligible entity; (2) the presence of high opportunity areas in the eligible entity; (3) coordination between the eligible entity and a State agency; and (4) coordination between the eligible entity and State, local, and regional transportation planning authorities. (d) Set-aside for rural areas Of the amounts made available in each fiscal year for grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10-percent shall be used for grants to eligible entities that are located in rural areas. (e) Report requirement Not later than 3 years after being awarded a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a report that— (1) describes the impacts of the activities carried out using the amounts provided under this section on improving the production and supply of affordable housing; (2) includes a list of any pattern books the eligible entity has established using amounts provided under this section, including a description of the designs such pattern book includes; (3) identifies the number of permits issued by the eligible entity for housing development using designs from such pattern book; and (4) identifies the number of housing units produced in developments of the eligible entity using a design from such pattern book. (f) Availability of information The Secretary shall— (1) to the extent possible, encourage eligible entities awarded grants under this section to make any pattern books established by such entity, and designs in such pattern book, publicly available through a website; and (2) collect, identify, and disseminate best practices relating to pattern books and make such information publicly available on a website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (g) Repayment of awarded amounts The Secretary may require an eligible entity to return, to the Secretary, grant amounts awarded under this section if the Secretary determines that the eligible entity has not approved a sufficient number of building permits that use designs included in a pattern book established by the eligible entity, during the 5-year period following receipt of the grant by the eligible entity, unless such period is extended by the Secretary. (h) Sunset The pilot program established under this section shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this section. (i) Definitions In this section: (1) Affordable housing The term affordable housing means housing for which the total monthly housing cost payment is not more than 30-percent of the monthly household income for a household earning not more than 80-percent of the area-median income. (2) Covered structure The term covered structure means a low-rise or mid-rise structure with not more than 25 dwelling units that may include— (A) an accessory dwelling unit; (B) infill development; (C) a duplex; (D) a triplex; (E) a fourplex; (F) a cottage court; (G) a courtyard building; (H) a townhouse; (I) a multiplex; and (J) any other structure with not less than 2 dwelling units that the Secretary has determined in advance to be appropriate. (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a unit of general local government, as defined in section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)); and (B) an Indian Tribe, as defined in section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)). (4) High opportunity area The term high opportunity area has the meaning given the term in section 1282.1 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (5) Infill development The term infill development means a residential housing development on small parcels in previously established areas for replacement by new or refurbished housing that utilizes existing utilities and infrastructure. (6) Mixed-income housing The term mixed-income housing means a housing development that is comprised of housing units that promote differing levels of affordability in the community. (7) Pattern book The term pattern book means a set of pre-reviewed, designated designs or construction plans that are assessed and approved as by-right development by localities for compliance with local building and permitting standards to streamline and expedite approval pathways for housing construction. (8) Rural area The term rural area means any area other than a city or town that has a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants. (9) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.