UNLOCK Act
The UNLOCK Act would amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to expand how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds can be used. Specifically, it adds a new eligible use: for metropolitan cities or urban counties, states, units of general local government, insular areas, or tribal entities that receive funds under section 106, CDBG money may be used to construct new residential housing for low- and moderate-income people. This construction can occur with or without the involvement of neighborhood-based nonprofits or other private or public nonprofit organizations. In short, the bill broadens the program to explicitly support new housing development, not just rehabilitation or other activities, to increase the stock of affordable housing.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new eligible use of CDBG funds to finance the construction of new residential housing for low- and moderate-income individuals.
- 2Eligible recipients include metropolitan cities, urban counties, states, units of general local government, insular areas, and tribal entities that receive amounts under section 106.
- 3The construction can occur with or without assistance from neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations, or other private or public nonprofit organizations.
- 4The change focuses on increasing new housing supply for low- and moderate-income households.
- 5The bill is titled the UNLOCK Act and amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; introduced in the 119th Congress with multiple sponsors.