Sec. 209. Accelerating Home Building Act.
• What it does: Authorizes HUD to award grants to support localities, including tribes, in developing and adopting pre-reviewed housing designs. Designs are intended for use in mixed-income housing and apply to low and mid-rise housing with 25 or fewer units. At least ten percent of the annual funding pool is reserved for rural areas, and repayment may be required five years after receiving a grant if designs have not been adopted. Funding cannot be used for construction, alteration or repairs.
• Why it matters: By supporting pre-reviewed designs, the program seeks to reduce regulatory delays in permitting and help projects move faster through approvals, ultimately facilitating more efficient housing development.
Sec. 405. Choice in Affordable Housing Act( Inspections Provisions)
• What it does: This section reduces duplicative inspections by allowing inspections performed within the last 12 months to be valid across Low-Income Housing Tax Credit( LIHTC)-financed, HOME Investment Partnerships Program( HOME) and U. S. Department of Agriculture( USDA) Rural Housing Service properties. Furthermore, it permits HUD to authorize virtual inspections for properties in rural areas. This section also authorizes early inspections for new housing providers before a unit is selected by an assisted resident.
• Why it matters: Allowing an inspection to cover multiple federal housing programs will reduce wait-times and put families into affordable housing sooner. This reduced administrative burden will save time and resources while preserving housing quality standards. Virtual inspections will provide relief to smallmarket operators in rural areas who previously have dealt with inspection delays. Additionally, early inspections will approve units while they are being marketed, reducing lease-up delays.
Sec. 501. HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Reform Act.
• What it does: Reauthorizes and modernizes the HOME program to improve administration and support more housing construction. Certain jurisdictions now have additional options to utilize HOME funds in support of infrastructure like water and sewer lines, sidewalks and roads that support qualifying housing developments. Several small-scale projects will also now be exempt from many costly environmental review requirements, and other duplicative reviews will be removed.
• Why it matters: HOME remains a vital tool for increasing the supply of affordable housing. This act streamlines the program to reduce its overall administrative burden and promote the efficient use of HOME funds. Overall, this act allows HOME funds to be used for more housing-related activities and improves the feasibility of new development.
ADDITIONAL PRO-HOUSING POLICIES
Sec. 102. Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings.
• What it does: Directs HUD to develop model code guidance for point-access block residential buildings, a type of single-stair residential building which is no greater than six stories. These guidelines are directed to discuss fire safety, construction costs and affordability, flexibility for diverse consumer needs, examples of code language from the local to international level and more. HUD may also establish a grant
APARTMENT ADVOCATE
for pilot programs that evaluate or demonstrate“ the safety, feasibility, or cost-effectiveness” of pointaccess block residential buildings.
• Why it matters: These guidelines, and the model language that will eventually be provided, will assist state and local lawmakers in developing informed point-access block building provisions in their regulations.
Sec. 201. Increasing housing in opportunity zones.
• What it does: Allows HUD to give additional weight in competitive housing grant programs to projects located in, or that directly benefit, federally designated Opportunity Zones. The preference can apply to grants supporting housing construction, rehabilitation, preservation or modification.
• Why it matters: The provision is intended to encourage greater housing investment and development in economically distressed communities by making Opportunity Zone projects more competitive for federal funding. By leveraging existing HUD grant programs, it could help attract additional public and private capital to support housing production and preservation without creating new mandates on housing providers.
Sec. 202. Whole-Home Repairs Act.
• What it does: Authorizes a HUD pilot grant program, administered by states or localities, to fund whole-home repairs for certain low-income homeowners and small rental owners, defined as owning fewer than 10 properties, no more than 25 total units and with a majority of affordable units. Homeowners receive grants, while rental providers get access to loans which may be forgiven to use on repairs and improvements. The program will run through October 1, 2031.
TRENDS AUGUST 2026 | 43