Collapse to view only § 1701g-5a. Transfer of New Communities Fund assets and liabilities

§ 1701. Short title

This chapter may be cited as the “National Housing Act.”

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, 48 Stat. 1246.)
§ 1701a. Short title of amendment of 1938

The Act of February 3, 1938, ch. 13, 52 Stat. 8, may be cited as the “National Housing Act Amendments of 1938.”

(Feb. 3, 1938, ch. 13, § 1, 52 Stat. 8.)
§ 1701b. Short title of amendment of 1942

The Act of May 26, 1942, ch. 319, 56 Stat. 301, may be cited as the “National Housing Act Amendments of 1942”.

(May 26, 1942, ch. 319, § 15, 56 Stat. 305.)
§ 1701c. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
In carrying out his functions, powers, and duties—
(a) Employment of personnel; delegation of functions

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may appoint such officers and employees as he may find necessary, which appointments shall be subject to the civil-service laws and chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5. The Secretary may make such expenditures as may be necessary to carry out his functions, powers, and duties, and there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to carry out such functions, powers, and duties and for administrative expenses in connection therewith. The Secretary, without in any way relieving himself from final responsibility, may delegate any of his functions and powers to such officers, agents, or employees as he may designate, may authorize such successive redelegations of such functions and powers, as he may deem desirable, and may make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out his functions, powers, and duties.

(b) Omitted
(c) Additional powers and duties of Secretary and Federal Home Loan Bank Board
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, respectively, may, in addition to and not in derogation of any powers and authorities conferred elsewhere in this Act—
(1) with the consent of the agency or organization concerned, accept and utilize equipment, facilities, or the services of employees of any Federal, State, or local public agency or instrumentality, educational institution, or nonprofit agency or organization and, in connection with the utilization of such services, may make payments for transportation while away from their homes or regular places of business and per diem in lieu of subsistence en route and at place of such service, in accordance with the provisions of section 5703 of title 5;
(2) utilize, contract with and act through, without regard to section 6101 of title 41, any Federal, State, or local public agency or instrumentality, educational institution, or non-profit agency or organization with the consent of the agency or organization concerned, and any funds available to said officers for carrying out their respective functions, powers, and duties shall be available to reimburse or pay any such agency or organization; and, whenever in the judgment of any such officer necessary, he may make advance, progress, or other payments with respect to such contracts without regard to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31; and
(3) make expenditures for all necessary expenses, including preparation, mounting, shipping, and installation of exhibits; purchase and exchange of technical apparatus; and such other expenses as may, from time to time, be found necessary in carrying out their respective functions, powers, and duties: Provided, That funds made available for administrative expenses in carrying out the functions, powers, and duties imposed upon the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Home Loan Bank Agency,1
1 So in original. Probably should refer to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
respectively, by or pursuant to law may at their option be consolidated into a single administrative expense fund accounts of such officer or agency for expenditure by them, respectively, in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(d) Use of funds for library memberships

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may utilize funds made available to him for salaries and expenses for payment in advance for dues or fees for library memberships in organizations (or for membership of the individual librarians in organizations which will not accept library membership) whose publications are available to members only, or to members at a price lower than to the general public, and for payment in advance for publications available only upon that basis or available at a reduced price on prepublication order.

(Aug. 10, 1948, ch. 832, title V, § 502, 62 Stat. 1283; Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, title XI, § 1106(a), 63 Stat. 972; Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title V, § 503, 64 Stat. 80; Pub. L. 87–70, title IX, § 909, June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 192; Pub. L. 90–19, § 5(d)(1)–(3), (8)–(13), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 21; Pub. L. 98–479, title II, §§ 202(b), 203(c), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2228, 2229; Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 570(a)(1), (3), Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1949, 1950; Pub. L. 101–73, title III, § 306, Aug. 9, 1989, 103 Stat. 352; Pub. L. 111–203, title III, § 370, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1565.)
§ 1701c–1. Omitted
§ 1701d. Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 655
§§ 1701d–1, 1701d–2. Repealed. Pub. L. 90–19, §§ 6(i), 12(a), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 22, 23
§ 1701d–3. Repealed. Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 503(3), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1785
§ 1701d–4. Exchange and assembly of housing and urban planning and development data; payment of expenses; acceptance of funds, services, facilities, materials, and other donations; approval of Secretary of State for international programs and activities
(a) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may exchange data relating to housing and urban planning and development with other nations and assemble such data from other nations, through participation in international conferences and other means, where such exchange or assembly is deemed by him to be beneficial in carrying out his responsibilities under the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act [42 U.S.C. 3531 et seq.] or other legislation. In carrying out his responsibilities under this subsection the Secretary may—
(1) pay the expenses of participation in activities conducted under authority of this section including, but not limited to, the compensation, travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence of persons serving in an advisory capacity while away from their homes or regular places of business in connection with attendance at international meetings and conferences, or other travel for the purpose of exchange or assembly of data relating to housing and urban planning and development; but such travel expenses shall not exceed those authorized for regular officers and employees traveling in connection with said activities; and
(2) accept from international organizations, foreign countries, and private nonprofit foundations, funds, services, facilities, materials, and other donations to be utilized jointly in carrying out activities under this section.
(b) International programs and activities carried out by the Secretary under the authority provided in subsection (a) shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for the purpose of assuring that such authority shall be exercised in a manner consistent with the foreign policy of the United States.
(Pub. L. 85–104, title VI, § 604, July 12, 1957, 71 Stat. 305; Pub. L. 90–19, § 14(b), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 24; Pub. L. 90–448, title XVII, § 1709, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 606.)
§§ 1701e, 1701f. Repealed. Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 503(1), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1785
§ 1701f–1. Repealed. Pub. L. 90–19, § 5(c), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 21
§§ 1701g to 1701g–3. Omitted
§ 1701g–4. Omitted
§ 1701g–5. Revolving fund in connection with liquidating programs

There is established as of June 30, 1954, a revolving fund, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized to credit said fund with all moneys hereafter obtained or now held by him or by any constituent agency of the Department of Housing and Urban Development or any other official thereof, and to account under said fund for all assets and liabilities, in connection with (1) community facilities provided or assisted under title II of the Lanham Act, as amended [42 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.], or under title III of the Defense Housing and Community Facilities and Services Act of 1951, as amended [42 U.S.C. 1592 et seq.]; (2) loans or advances made pursuant to title V of the War Mobilization and Reconversion Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 791), or the Act of October 13, 1949; (3) functions transferred under Reorganization Plan No. 23 of 1950, or authorized under sections 102, 102a, 102b, and 102c of the Housing Act of 1948, as amended [12 U.S.C. 1701g to 1701g–3]; (4) notes or other obligations purchased pursuant to the Alaska Housing Act, as amended (48 U.S.C. 484(a)); (5) subsistence homesteads and greentowns (Acts of June 29, 1936, 49 Stat. 2035, and May 19, 1949, 63 Stat. 68); (6) public war housing under title I of the Lanham Act, as amended [42 U.S.C. 1521 et seq.], and defense housing under title III of the Defense Housing and Community Facilities and Services Act of 1951, as amended [42 U.S.C. 1592 et seq.]; and (7) veterans’ re-use housing under title V of the Lanham Act, as amended [42 U.S.C. 1571 et seq.]: Provided, That said fund shall be available for all necessary expenses (including administrative expenses) in connection with the liquidation of the programs carried out pursuant to the foregoing provisions of law, including operation, maintenance, improvement, or disposition of facilities, and for disbursements pursuant to outstanding commitments against moneys herein authorized to be credited to said fund, repayment of obligations to the Treasury, and refinancing and refunding operations on existing loans: Provided further, That any amount in said fund which is determined to be in excess of requirements for the purposes hereof shall be declared and paid as liquidating dividends to the Treasury not less often than annually: Provided further, That after June 24, 1954, no additional notes or obligations shall be purchased from funds appropriated pursuant to the Alaska Housing Act, as amended (48 U.S.C. 484(d)), except for the furtherance or refinancing of an existing loan: Provided further, That except for extensions, or refinancing, of existing obligations the authority to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury under section 1(4) of Reorganization Plan No. 23 of 1950, shall terminate on June 30, 1954.

(June 24, 1954, ch. 359, title II, § 201, 68 Stat. 295.)
§ 1701g–5a. Transfer of New Communities Fund assets and liabilities

The Secretary shall transfer all assets and liabilities of the fund established pursuant to section 717 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4518), to the Revolving fund (liquidating programs) established pursuant to title II of the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1955, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701g–5).

(Pub. L. 98–45, title I, § 101, July 12, 1983, 97 Stat. 223.)
§ 1701g–5b. Liquidation of New Communities Program; cancellation of debt
(a) Law applicable

In order to provide for the management and orderly liquidation of the assets, and discharge the liabilities, acquired or incurred in connection with the new communities program authorized pursuant to title IV of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 [42 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.] and title VII of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 [42 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.] (hereafter referred to in this section as “title IV” and “title VII”, respectively), the liquidation of the new communities program shall be carried out pursuant to the provisions of law applicable to the revolving fund (liquidating programs) established pursuant to title II of the Independent Offices Appropriations Act, 1955 [12 U.S.C. 1701g–5], upon the transfer by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) of the assets and liabilities of the fund authorized under section 717 of title VII [42 U.S.C. 4518] to such revolving fund, as required in title I of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1984 [12 U.S.C. 1701g–5a]. The Secretary shall report to the Congress not less than sixty days prior to taking any action with respect to the disposition of real property (other than a purchase money mortgage) which involves any further potential liability of or assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development with respect to any property so transferred.

(b) Availability of revolving fund moneys for administrative and other expenses

In carrying out the purposes of subsection (a), all moneys in the revolving fund (liquidating programs) shall be available for necessary administrative and other expenses of servicing and liquidating obligations guaranteed pursuant to section 403 and section 713 of title IV and title VII, respectively [42 U.S.C. 3902, 4514], including costs of services (including legal services) performed on a contract or fee basis, and to discharge any other liability acquired or incurred in connection with the new communities program. Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the acquisition, handling, improvement, or disposal of real and other property by the United States, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall also have power, for the protection of the interests of the revolving fund (liquidating programs), to pay out of any moneys in such fund all expenses or charges in connection with the acquisition, handling, improvement, or disposal of any property, real or personal, acquired by the Secretary either prior or subsequent to November 30, 1983, as a result of recoveries under security, subrogation, or other rights in connection with the new communities program.

(c) Issuance of obligations to Secretary of the Treasury

After making the transfer required in title I of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1984 [12 U.S.C. 1701g–5a], the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury in an amount sufficient to enable the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to satisfy any guarantee made pursuant to section 403 or 713 of title IV or title VII, respectively [42 U.S.C. 3902, 4514], and otherwise carry out the functions authorized by this section. The obligations issued under this subsection shall have such maturities and bear such rate or rates of interest as shall be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to purchase any obligations so issued, and for that purpose the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under chapter 31 of title 31, and the purposes for which securities may be issued under such chapter are extended to include purchases of obligations issued under this subsection.

(d) Cancellation of obligations

Upon the transfer required in title I of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1984 [12 U.S.C. 1701g–5a], each obligation issued by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 407(a) or 717(b) of title IV or title VII, respectively [42 U.S.C. 3906(a), 4518(b)], together with any promise to repay the principal and unpaid interest which has accrued on each obligation, and any other term or condition specified by each such obligation, is canceled.

(Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 474(a)–(d)], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1238, 1239.)
§ 1701g–5c. Transfer of rehabilitation loan fund assets and liabilities

Notwithstanding section 289(c) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (Public Law 101–625), the assets and liabilities of the revolving fund established by section 1452b 1

1 See References in Text note below.
of title 42, and any collections, including repayments or recaptured amounts, of such fund shall be transferred to and merged with the Revolving Fund (liquidating programs), established pursuant to title II of the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1955, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701g–5), effective October 1, 1991.

(Pub. L. 102–139, title II, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 752.)
§ 1701h. Advisory committees; payment of transportation and other expenses

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized to establish such advisory committee or committees as he may deem necessary in carrying out any of his functions, powers, and duties under this or any other Act or authorization. Persons serving without compensation as members of any such committee may be paid transportation expenses and not to exceed $25 per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5.

(July 15, 1949, ch. 338, title VI, § 601, 63 Stat. 439; Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title VIII, § 807, 68 Stat. 645; Pub. L. 89–117, title XI, § 1106, Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 503; Pub. L. 90–19, § 6(h), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 22; Pub. L. 98–479, title II, § 202(c), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2228.)
§ 1701h–1. Housing for elderly persons advisory committee

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall establish, in accordance with the provisions of section 1701h of this title, an advisory committee on matters relating to housing for elderly persons.

(Aug. 7, 1956, ch. 1029, title I, § 104(d), 70 Stat. 1093; Pub. L. 90–19, § 13(a), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 24.)
§§ 1701i, 1701i–1. Omitted
§ 1701j. Repealed. Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title VIII, § 813, 68 Stat. 647
§ 1701j–1. Builder’s certification as to construction
(a) Warranty requirements

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized and directed to require that, in connection with any property upon which there is located a dwelling designed principally for not more than a four-family residence and which is approved for mortgage insurance prior to the beginning of construction, the seller or builder, and such other person as may be required by the said Secretary to become warrantor, shall deliver to the purchaser or owner of such property a warranty that the dwelling is constructed in substantial conformity with the plans and specifications (including any amendments thereof, or changes and variations therein, which have been approved in writing by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) on which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development based his valuation of the dwelling: Provided, That the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall deliver to the builder, seller, or other warrantor his written approval (which shall be conclusive evidence of such approval) of any amendment of, or change or variation in, such plans and specifications which the Secretary deems to be a substantial amendment thereof, or change or variation therein, and shall file a copy of such written approval with such plans and specifications: Provided further, That such warranty shall apply only with respect to such instances of substantial nonconformity to such approved plans and specifications (including any amendments thereof, or changes or variations therein, which have been approved in writing, as provided herein, by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) as to which the purchaser or homeowner has given written notice to the warrantor within one year from the date of conveyance of title to, or initial occupancy of, the dwelling, whichever first occurs: Provided further, That such warranty shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, all other rights and privileges which such purchaser or owner may have under any other law or instrument: And provided further, That the provisions of this section shall apply to any such property covered by a mortgage insured by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on and after October 1, 1954, unless such mortgage is insured pursuant to a commitment therefor made prior to October 1, 1954.

(b) Availability of plans and specifications

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is further directed to permit copies of the plans and specifications (including written approvals of any amendments thereof, or changes or variations therein, as provided herein) for dwellings in connection with which warranties are required by subsection (a) of this section to be made available in their appropriate local offices for inspection or for copying by any purchaser, homeowner, or warrantor during such hours or periods of time as the said Secretary may determine to be reasonable.

(Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title VIII, § 801, 68 Stat. 642; Pub. L. 85–857, § 13(s)(2), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1266; Pub. L. 90–19, § 10(e), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 22.)
§ 1701j–2. National Institute of Building Sciences
(a) Congressional findings and declaration of purpose
(1) The Congress finds (A) that the lack of an authoritative national source to make findings and to advise both the public and private sectors of the economy with respect to the use of building science and technology in achieving nationally acceptable standards and other technical provision for use in Federal, State, and local housing and building regulations is an obstacle to efforts by and imposes severe burdens upon all those who procure, design, construct, use, operate, maintain, and retire physical facilities, and frequently results in the failure to take full advantage of new and useful developments in technology which could improve our living environment; (B) that the establishment of model buildings codes or of a single national building code will not completely resolve the problem because of the difficulty at all levels of government in updating their housing and building regulations to reflect new developments in technology, as well as the irregularities and inconsistencies which arise in applying such requirements to particular localities or special local conditions; (C) that the lack of uniform housing and building regulatory provisions increases the costs of construction and thereby reduces the amount of housing and other community facilities which can be provided; and (D) that the existence of a single authoritative nationally recognized institution to provide for the evaluation of new technology could facilitate introduction of such innovations and their acceptance at the Federal, State, and local levels.
(2) The Congress further finds, however, that while an authoritative source of technical findings is needed, various private organizations and institutions, private industry, labor, and Federal and other governmental agencies and entities are presently engaged in building research, technology development, testing, and evaluation, standards and model code development and promulgation, and information dissemination. These existing activities should be encouraged and these capabilities effectively utilized wherever possible and appropriate to the purposes of this section.
(3) The Congress declares that an authoritative nongovernmental instrument needs to be created to address the problems and issues described in paragraph (1), that the creation of such an instrument should be initiated by the Government, with the advice and assistance of the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering-National Research Council (hereinafter referred to as the “Academies-Research Council”) and of the various sectors of the building community, including labor and management, technical experts in building science and technology, and the various levels of government.
(b) Establishment; advice and assistance of Academies-Research Council and other agencies and organizations knowledgeable in building technology
(1) There is authorized to be established, for the purposes described in subsection (a)(3), an appropriate nonprofit, non­governmental instrument to be known as the National Institute of Building Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the “Institute”), which shall not be an agency or establishment of the United States Government. The Institute shall be subject to the provisions of this section and, to the extent consistent with this section, to a charter of the Congress if such a charter is requested and issued or to the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act if that is deemed preferable.
(2) The Academies-Research Council, along with other agencies and organizations which are knowledgeable in the field of building technology, shall advise and assist in (A) the establishment of the Institute; (B) the development of an organizational framework to encourage and provide for the maximum feasible participation of public and private scientific, technical, and financial organizations, institutions, and agencies now engaged in activities pertinent to the development, promulgation, and maintenance of performance criteria, standards, and other technical provisions for building codes and other regulations; and (C) the promulgation of appropriate organizational rules and procedures including those for the selection and operation of a technical staff, such rules and procedures to be based upon the primary object of promoting the public interest and insuring that the widest possible variety of interests and experience essential to the functions of the Institute are represented in the Institute’s operations. Recommendations of the Academies-Research Council shall be based upon consultations with and recommendations from various private organizations and institutions, labor, private industry, and governmental agencies entities operating in the field, and the Consultative Council as provided for under subsection (c)(8).
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as expressing the intent of the Congress that the Academies-Research Council itself be required to assume any function or operation vested in the Institute by or under this section.
(c) Board of Directors; number; appointment; membership; terms of office; vacancies; appointment, etc., of Chairman and Vice Chairman; employees of United States; travel and subsistence expenses; appointment and compensation of president and other executive officers and employees; establishment, membership, and functions of Consultative Council
(1) The Institute shall have a Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) consisting of not less than fifteen nor more than twenty-one members, appointed by the President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Board shall be representative of the various segments of the building community, of the various regions of the country, and of the consumers who are or would be affected by actions taken in the exercise of the functions and responsibilities of the Institute, and shall include (A) representatives of the construction industry, including representatives of construction labor organizations, product manufacturers, and builders, housing management experts, and experts in building standards, codes, and fire safety, and (B) members representative of the public interest in such numbers as may be necessary to assure that a majority of the members of the Board represent the public interest and that there is adequate consideration by the Institute of consumer interests in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. Those representing the public interest on the Board shall include architects, professional engineers, officials of Federal, State, and local agencies, and representatives of consumer organizations. Such members of the Board shall hold no financial interest or membership in, nor be employed by, or receive other compensation from, any company, association, or other group associated with the manufacture, distribution, installation, or maintenance of specialized building products, equipment, systems, subsystems, or other construction materials and techniques for which there are available substitutes.
(2) The members of the initial Board shall serve as incorporators and shall take whatever actions are necessary to establish the Institute as provided for under subsection (b)(1).
(3) The term of office of each member of the initial and succeeding Boards shall be three years; except that (A) any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term; and (B) the terms of office of members first taking office shall begin on the date of incorporation and shall expire, as designated at the time of their appointment, one-third at the end of one year, one-third at the end of two years, and one-third at the end of three years. No member shall be eligible to serve in excess of three consecutive terms of three years each. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, a member whose term has expired may serve until his successor has qualified.
(4) Any vacancy in the initial and succeeding Boards shall not affect its power, but shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointments were made, or, after the first five years of operation, as provided for by the organizational rules and procedures of the Institute; except that, notwithstanding any such rules and procedures as may be adopted by the Institute, the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint, as representative of the public interest, two of the members of the Board of Directors selected each year for terms commencing in that year.
(5) The President shall designate one of the members appointed to the initial Board as Chairman; thereafter, the members of the initial and succeeding Boards shall annually elect one of their number as Chairman. The members of the Board shall also elect one or more of their Members as Vice Chairman. Terms of the Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be for one year and no individual shall serve as Chairman or Vice Chairman for more than two consecutive terms.
(6) The members of the initial or succeeding Boards shall not, by reason of such membership, be deemed to be employees of the United States Government. They shall, while attending meetings of the Board or while engaged in duties related to such meetings or in other activities of the Board pursuant to this section, be entitled to receive compensation at the rate of $100 per day including traveltime, and while away from their homes or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, equal to that authorized under section 5703 of title 5, for persons in the Government service employed intermittently.
(7) The Institute shall have a president and such other executive officers and employees as may be appointed by the Board at rates of compensation fixed by the Board. No such executive officer or employee may receive any salary or other compensation from any source other than the Institute during the period of his employment by the Institute.
(8) The Institute shall establish, with the advice and assistance of the Academies-Research Council and other agencies and organizations which are knowledgeable in the field of building technology, a Consultative Council, membership in which shall be available to representatives of all appropriate private trade, professional, and labor organizations, private and public standards, code, and testing bodies, public regulatory agencies, and consumer groups, so as to insure a direct line of communication between such groups and the Institute and a vehicle for representative hearings on matters before the Institute.
(d) Financial restrictions and prohibitions
(1) The Institute shall have no power to issue any shares of stock, or to declare or pay any dividends.
(2) No part of the income or assets of the Institute shall inure to the benefit of any director, officer, employee, or other individual except as salary or reasonable compensation for services.
(3) The Institute shall not contribute to or otherwise support any political party or candidate for elective public office.
(e) Exercise of functions and responsibilities
(1) The Institute shall exercise its functions and responsibilities in four general areas, relating to building regulations, as follows:
(A) Development, promulgation, and maintenance of nationally recognized performance criteria, standards, and other technical provisions for maintenance of life, safety, health, and public welfare suitable for adoption by building regulating jurisdictions and agencies, including test methods and other evaluative techniques relating to building systems, subsystems, components, products, and materials with due regard for consumer problems.
(B) Evaluation and prequalification of existing and new building technology in accordance with subparagraph (A).
(C) Conduct of needed investigations in direct support of subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(D) Assembly, storage, and dissemination of technical data and other information directly related to subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
(2) The Institute in exercising its functions and responsibilities described in paragraph (1) shall assign and delegate, to the maximum extent possible, responsibility for conducting each of the needed activities described in paragraph (1) to one or more of the private organizations, institutions, agencies, and Federal and other governmental entities with a capacity to exercise or contribute to the exercise of such responsibility, monitor the performance achieved through assignment and delegation, and, when deemed necessary, reassign and delegate such responsibility.
(3) The Institute in exercising its functions and responsibilities under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall (A) give particular attention to the development of methods for encouraging all sectors of the economy to cooperate with the Institute and to accept and use its technical findings, and to accept and use the nationally recognized performance criteria, standards, and other technical provisions developed for use in Federal, State, and local building codes and other regulations which result from the program of the Institute; (B) seek to assure that its actions are coordinated with related requirements which are imposed in connection with community and environmental development generally; and (C) consult with the Department of Justice and other agencies of government to the extent necessary to insure that the national interest is protected and promoted in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities.
(f) Contract and grant authorization; donations; fees; amounts received in addition to amounts appropriated
(1) The Institute is authorized to accept contracts and grants from Federal, State, and local governmental agencies and other entities, and grants and donations from private organizations, institutions, and individuals.
(2) The Institute may, in accordance with rates and schedules established with guidance as provided under subsection (b)(2), establish fees and other charges for services provided by the Institute or under its authorization.
(3) Amounts received by the Institute under this section shall be in addition to any amounts which may be appropriated to provide its initial operating capital under subsection (h).
(g) Technical findings and performance criteria and standards; applicability and use by Federal departments, agencies, and establishments, and State and local governments; supporting grants and contracts
(1) Every department, agency, and establishment of the Federal Government, in carrying out any building or construction, or any building- or construction-related programs, which involves direct expenditures, and in developing technical requirements for any such building or construction, shall be encouraged to accept the technical findings of the Institute, or any nationally recognized performance criteria, standards, and other technical provisions for building regulations brought about by the Institute, which may be applicable.
(2)
(3) Every department, agency, and establishment of the Federal Government having responsibility for building or construction, or for building- or construction-related programs, is authorized and encouraged to request authorization and appropriations for grants to the Institute for its general support, and is authorized to contract with and accept contracts from the Institute for specific services where deemed appropriate by the responsible Federal official involved.
(4) The Institute shall establish and carry on a specific and continuing program of cooperation with the States and their political subdivisions designed to encourage their acceptance of its technical findings and of nationally recognized performance criteria, standards, and other technical provisions for building regulations brought about by the Institute. Such program shall include (A) efforts to encourage any changes in existing State and local law to utilize or embody such findings and regulatory provisions; and (B) assistance to States in the development of inservice training programs for building officials, and in the establishment of fully staffed and qualified State technical agencies to advise local officials on questions of technical interpretation.
(h) Advanced Building Technology Program
(1) Establishment of Advanced Building Technology Council

There is established within the Institute, the Advanced Building Technology Council (hereafter referred to as the “Council”).

(2) PurposesThe Council shall carry out an Advanced Building Technology Program for the purposes of—
(A) identifying, selecting, and evaluating existing and new building technologies, including energy cost savings technologies, that conform to recognized performance criteria and meet applicable test standards for maintenance of life, safety, health, and public welfare when used in occupied buildings;
(B) to the extent necessary, developing criteria for the use of such technology;
(C) conducting economic analyses of proposed new technologies when produced and installed in buildings at volumes associated with comparable conventional technologies;
(D) in cooperation with the appropriate Federal agencies, advising building designers, installers, subcontractors, contractors and supervisory officials on the appropriate design and use of new building technology incorporated in federally owned or operated buildings;
(E) in cooperation with the appropriate Federal agencies, monitoring and evaluating the performance of new building technologies for at least 1 year after installation and building occupancy; and
(F) disseminating resulting data to affected parties through automated information management systems.
(3) Council membershipThe Council shall be comprised of not less than 6 and not more than 11 members selected by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from among representatives of the various segments of the nationwide building community that have extensive experience in building industries, including, but not limited to—
(A) product manufacturers;
(B) experts in the fields of health, fire hazards, and safety; and
(C) independent representatives of the public interest such as architects, professional engineers, and representatives of consumer organizations,
except that serving members of the National Institute of Building Sciences Advisory Council shall not be eligible to serve simultaneously on the Council.
(4) Federal participation
(A) In general

Any agency of the Federal Government involved in any building or construction may participate in the Advanced Building Technology Program with the Council to develop and implement programs to incorporate one or more of the recommended new technologies in a new or existing building within the agency.

(B) Required assurancesUpon agreement between a participating Federal agency and the Council, with respect to the selection of the appropriate technology and the schedule of necessary work, the Council shall—
(i) provide the Federal agency with a 5-year guarantee from the technology manufacturer that—(I) all necessary corrections to the technology will be made in the design, installation, and maintenance of the technology;(II) all malfunctions will be repaired without delay; and(III) the technology manufacturer will be responsible for removal of the technology in the event of its failure to perform as required;
(ii) provide the Federal agency and its officials responsible for constructing or renovating buildings utilizing the new technology, as well as the designers, installers, subcontractors, and contractors responsible for the design, construction, or renovation of the buildings utilizing such technology with the technical information necessary to ensure its most appropriate use,
(iii) in cooperation with the Federal agency, monitor and evaluate the performance of the new technology, and
(iv) prepare reports to be made available to public agencies at all levels of government, the industry, and the public on the performance of the new technology.
(5) Report to the Institute

The Council shall submit to the Institute annually a description of its activities under the Advanced Building Technology Program for inclusion in the Institute’s annual report to the Congress under subsection (j).

(i) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Institute not to exceed $5,000,000 for the fiscal year 1975, and $5,000,000 for the fiscal year 1976, and $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1977 and 1978, and any amounts not appropriated in fiscal years 1977 and 1978 may be appropriated in any fiscal year through 1984 (with not more than $500,000 to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 1982, 1983, and 1984 and with each appropriation to be available until expended), to provide the Institute with initial capital adequate for the exercise of its functions and responsibilities during such years; and thereafter the Institute shall be financially self-sustaining through the means described in subsection (f). In addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated under the first sentence of this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Institute to carry out the provisions of this section not to exceed $512,000 for fiscal year 1991 and $534,000 for fiscal year 1992. Any amount appropriated under the preceding sentence shall be made available for expenditure or obligation by the Institute only to the extent of an equal amount received by the Institute after November 30, 1983, from persons or entities other than the Federal Government.

(j) Annual report to President for transmittal to Congress; contents

The Institute shall submit an annual report for the preceding fiscal year to the President for transmittal to the Congress within sixty days of its receipt. The report shall include a comprehensive and detailed report of the Institute’s operations, activities, financial condition, and accomplishments under this section and may include such recommendations as the Institute deems appropriate.

(Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 809, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 94–375, § 24, Aug. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 95–557, title III, § 319, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2101; Pub. L. 97–35, title III, § 339E, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 417; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 462], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1232; Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 570(f), Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1950; Pub. L. 101–625, title IX, § 952(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4418; Pub. L. 102–550, title IX, § 904(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3868.)
§ 1701j–3. Preemption of due-on-sale prohibitions
(a) DefinitionsFor the purpose of this section—
(1) the term “due-on-sale clause” means a contract provision which authorizes a lender, at its option, to declare due and payable sums secured by the lender’s security instrument if all or any part of the property, or an interest therein, securing the real property loan is sold or transferred without the lender’s prior written consent;
(2) the term “lender” means a person or government agency making a real property loan or any assignee or transferee, in whole or in part, of such a person or agency;
(3) the term “real property loan” means a loan, mortgage, advance, or credit sale secured by a lien on real property, the stock allocated to a dwelling unit in a cooperative housing corporation, or a residential manufactured home, whether real or personal property; and
(4) the term “residential manufactured home” means a manufactured home as defined in section 5402(6) of title 42 which is used as a residence; and
(5) the term “State” means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(b) Loan contract and terms governing execution or enforcement of due-on-sale options and rights and remedies of lenders and borrowers; assumptions of loan rates
(1) Notwithstanding any provision of the constitution or laws (including the judicial decisions) of any State to the contrary, a lender may, subject to subsection (c), enter into or enforce a contract containing a due-on-sale clause with respect to a real property loan.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d), the exercise by the lender of its option pursuant to such a clause shall be exclusively governed by the terms of the loan contract, and all rights and remedies of the lender and the borrower shall be fixed and governed by the contract.
(3) In the exercise of its option under a due-on-sale clause, a lender is encouraged to permit an assumption of a real property loan at the existing contract rate or at a rate which is at or below the average between the contract and market rates, and nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit any such assumption.
(c) State prohibitions applicable for prescribed period; subsection (b) provisions applicable upon expiration of such period; loans subject to State and Federal regulation or subsection (b) provisions when authorized by State laws or Federal regulations
(1) In the case of a contract involving a real property loan which was made or assumed, including a transfer of the liened property subject to the real property loan, during the period beginning on the date a State adopted a constitutional provision or statute prohibiting the exercise of due-on-sale clauses, or the date on which the highest court of such State has rendered a decision (or if the highest court has not so decided, the date on which the next highest appellate court has rendered a decision resulting in a final judgment if such decision applies State-wide) prohibiting such exercise, and ending on October 15, 1982, the provisions of subsection (b) shall apply only in the case of a transfer which occurs on or after the expiration of 3 years after October 15, 1982, except that—
(A) a State, by a State law enacted by the State legislature prior to the close of such 3-year period, with respect to real property loans originated in the State by lenders other than national banks, Federal savings and loan associations, Federal savings banks, and Federal credit unions, may otherwise regulate such contracts, in which case subsection (b) shall apply only if such State law so provides; and
(B) the Comptroller of the Currency with respect to real property loans originated by national banks or the National Credit Union Administration Board with respect to real property loans originated by Federal credit unions may, by regulation prescribed prior to the close of such period, otherwise regulate such contracts, in which case subsection (b) shall apply only if such regulation so provides.
(2)
(A) For any contract to which subsection (b) does not apply pursuant to this subsection, a lender may require any successor or transferee of the borrower to meet customary credit standards applied to loans secured by similar property, and the lender may declare the loan due and payable pursuant to the terms of the contract upon transfer to any successor or transferee of the borrower who fails to meet such customary credit standards.
(B) A lender may not exercise its option pursuant to a due-on-sale clause in the case of a transfer of a real property loan which is subject to this subsection where the transfer occurred prior to October 15, 1982.
(C) This subsection does not apply to a loan which was originated by a Federal savings and loan association or Federal savings bank.
(d) Exemption of specified transfers or dispositionsWith respect to a real property loan secured by a lien on residential real property containing less than five dwelling units, including a lien on the stock allocated to a dwelling unit in a cooperative housing corporation, or on a residential manufactured home, a lender may not exercise its option pursuant to a due-on-sale clause upon—
(1) the creation of a lien or other encumbrance subordinate to the lender’s security instrument which does not relate to a transfer of rights of occupancy in the property;
(2) the creation of a purchase money security interest for household appliances;
(3) a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety;
(4) the granting of a leasehold interest of three years or less not containing an option to purchase;
(5) a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower;
(6) a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property;
(7)
(8) a transfer into an inter vivos trust in which the borrower is and remains a beneficiary and which does not relate to a transfer of rights of occupancy in the property; or
(9) any other transfer or disposition described in regulations prescribed by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
(e) Rules, regulations, and interpretations; future income bearing loans subject to due-on-sale options
(1) The Federal Home Loan Bank Board, in consultation with the Comptroller of the Currency and the National Credit Union Administration Board, is authorized to issue rules and regulations and to publish interpretations governing the implementation of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d), the rules and regulations prescribed under this section may permit a lender to exercise its option pursuant to a due-on-sale clause with respect to a real property loan and any related agreement pursuant to which a borrower obtains the right to receive future income.
(f) Effective date for enforcement of Corporation-owned loans with due-on-sale options

The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”) shall not, prior to July 1, 1983, implement the change in its policy announced on July 2, 1982, with respect to enforcement of due-on-sale clauses in real property loans which are owned in whole or in part by the Corporation.

(g) Balloon payments

Federal Home Loan Bank Board regulations restricting the use of a balloon payment shall not apply to a loan, mortgage, advance, or credit sale to which this section applies.

(Pub. L. 97–320, title III, § 341, Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1505; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 473], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1237.)
§ 1701k. Right to redeem property on which United States has lien

The right to redeem provided for by section 2410(c) of title 28, shall not arise in any case in which the subordinate lien or interest of the United States derives from the issuance of insurance under the National Housing Act, as amended [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.].

(Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title V, § 505, 64 Stat. 81; Pub. L. 85–857, § 13(q), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1266.)
§ 1701l. Limitation on interest rates of insured mortgages; terms of sales

It is the intent of Congress that no sale of a dwelling on which a mortgage is insured under the National Housing Act, as amended [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], shall be financed, while such mortgage is so insured, at an interest rate higher than that prescribed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. It is the further intent of Congress that no such sale shall be made, while such mortgage is so insured, on terms less favorable to the purchaser as to amortization, retirement, foreclosure, or forfeiture than those contained in such mortgage.

(Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title V, § 508, 64 Stat. 81; Pub. L. 90–19, § 8(e), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 22.)
§ 1701l–1. Mortgage proceeds fraudulently misappropriated by mortgagor; recovery of deficiency after foreclosure

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall take action to secure the payment of any deficiency after foreclosure on a mortgage insured or assisted under Federal law where the Secretary has reason to believe that the mortgage proceeds have been fraudulently misappropriated by the mortgagor.

(Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 819, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 740.)
§ 1701m. Credit and cancellation of notes transferred from Reconstruction Finance Corporation; net loss computation

The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed from time to time to credit and cancel the note or notes of the Housing and Home Finance Administrator executed and delivered in connection with loans transferred from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to the Housing and Home Finance Agency pursuant to Reorganization Plan Numbered 23 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1279), to the extent of the net loss, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, sustained by said Agency in the liquidation of defaulted loans. The net loss shall be the sum of the unpaid principal and advances for care and preservation of collateral, together with accrued and unpaid interest on said principal and advances, and all expenses and costs (other than those subject to administrative expense limitations) in connection with the liquidation of defaulted loans, less the amount actually realized by the Housing and Home Finance Agency on account of such defaulted loans.

(July 14, 1952, ch. 723, § 9, 66 Stat. 603.)
§ 1701n. Reduction of vulnerability of congested urban areas to enemy attack

The Department of Housing and Urban Development, and any other departments or agencies of the Federal Government having powers, functions, or duties with respect to housing under any law shall exercise such powers, functions, or duties in such manner as, consistent with the requirements thereof, will facilitate progress in the reduction of the vulnerability of congested urban areas to enemy attack.

(Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title VIII, § 811, 68 Stat. 646; Pub. L. 90–19, § 10(g), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 23.)
§ 1701o. Annual report of Secretary

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, as soon as practicable during each calendar year, make a report to the President for submission to the Congress on all operations and programs (including but not limited to the insurance, urban renewal, public housing, and rent supplement programs) under the jurisdiction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the previous calendar year. Such report shall contain recommendations for strengthening or improving such programs, or, when necessary to implement more effectively Congressional policies and purposes, for establishing new or alternative programs.

(Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title VIII, § 802(a), 68 Stat. 642; Pub. L. 89–117, title XI, § 1101, Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 502; Pub. L. 90–19, § 10(f), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 23; Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 570(b), Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1950.)
§ 1701p. Contents of report to President and Congress

The annual report made by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to the President for submission to the Congress on all operations provided for by section 1701o of this title shall contain pertinent information with respect to all projects for which any loan, contribution, or grant has been made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the amount of loans, contributions and grants contracted for.

(Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title VIII, § 817, 68 Stat. 648; Pub. L. 90–19, § 10(j), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 23; Pub. L. 97–375, title II, § 207(a), Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1824.)
§ 1701p–1. Periodic report on residential mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures

As soon as practicable following November 30, 1983, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, with the cooperation of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Comptroller of the Currency, shall develop a method of accurately reporting to the Congress on a periodic basis with respect to residential mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures. Each such report shall include information with respect to the number of residential mortgage foreclosures, and the number of sixty- and ninety-day residential mortgage delinquencies, in the Nation and in each State.

(Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 469], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1237; Pub. L. 111–203, title III, § 372, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1566.)
§ 1701p–2. Default and foreclosure database
(a) Establishment

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Director of the Bureau, in consultation with the Federal agencies responsible for regulation of banking and financial institutions involved in residential mortgage lending and servicing, shall establish and maintain a database of information on foreclosures and defaults on mortgage loans for one- to four-unit residential properties and shall make such information publicly available, subject to subsection (e).

(b) Census tract data

Information in the database may be collected, aggregated, and made available on a census tract basis.

(c) Requirements
Information collected and made available through the database shall include—
(1) the number and percentage of such mortgage loans that are delinquent by more than 30 days;
(2) the number and percentage of such mortgage loans that are delinquent by more than 90 days;
(3) the number and percentage of such properties that are real estate-owned;
(4) number and percentage of such mortgage loans that are in the foreclosure process;
(5) the number and percentage of such mortgage loans that have an outstanding principal obligation amount that is greater than the value of the property for which the loan was made; and
(6) such other information as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Director of the Bureau consider appropriate.
(d) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to encourage discriminatory or unsound allocation of credit or lending policies or practices.

(e) Privacy and confidentiality
In establishing and maintaining the database described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Director of the Bureau shall—
(1) be subject to the standards applicable to Federal agencies for the protection of the confidentiality of personally identifiable information and for data security and integrity;
(2) implement the necessary measures to conform to the standards for data integrity and security described in paragraph (1); and
(3) collect and make available information under this section, in accordance with paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 5512(c) of this title and the rules prescribed under such paragraphs, in order to protect privacy and confidentiality.
(Pub. L. 111–203, title XIV, § 1447, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2172.)
§ 1701q. Supportive housing for the elderly
(a) PurposeThe purpose of this section is to enable elderly persons to live with dignity and independence by expanding the supply of supportive housing that—
(1) is designed to accommodate the special needs of elderly persons; and
(2) provides a range of services that are tailored to the needs of elderly persons occupying such housing.
(b) General authority

The Secretary is authorized to provide assistance to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing for the elderly. Such assistance shall be provided as (1) capital advances in accordance with subsection (c)(1), and (2) contracts for project rental assistance in accordance with subsection (c)(2). Such assistance may be used to finance the construction, reconstruction, or moderate or substantial rehabilitation of a structure or a portion of a structure, or the acquisition of a structure, to be used as supportive housing for the elderly in accordance with this section. Assistance may also cover the cost of real property acquisition, site improvement, conversion, demolition, relocation, and other expenses that the Secretary determines are necessary to expand the supply of supportive housing for the elderly.

(c) Forms of assistance
(1) Capital advances

A capital advance provided under this section shall bear no interest and its repayment shall not be required so long as the housing remains available for very low-income elderly persons in accordance with this section. Such advance shall be in an amount calculated in accordance with the development cost limitation established in subsection (h).

(2) Project rental assistance

Contracts for project rental assistance shall obligate the Secretary to make monthly payments to cover any part of the costs attributed to units occupied (or, as approved by the Secretary, held for occupancy) by very low-income elderly persons that is not met from project income. The annual contract amount for any project shall not exceed the sum of the initial annual project rentals for all units so occupied and any initial utility allowances for such units, as approved by the Secretary. Any contract amounts not used by a project in any year shall remain available to the project until the expiration of the contract. The Secretary may adjust the annual contract amount if the sum of the project income and the amount of assistance payments available under this paragraph are inadequate to provide for reasonable project costs.

(3) Tenant rent contribution

A very low-income person shall pay as rent for a dwelling unit assisted under this section the highest of the following amounts, rounded to the nearest dollar: (A) 30 percent of the person’s adjusted monthly income, (B) 10 percent of the person’s monthly income, or (C) if the person is receiving payments for welfare assistance from a public agency and a part of such payments, adjusted in accordance with the person’s actual housing costs, is specifically designated by such agency to meet the person’s housing costs, the portion of such payments which is so designated.

(d) Term of commitment
(1) Use limitations

All units in housing assisted under this section shall be made available for occupancy by very low-income elderly persons for not less than 40 years.

(2) Contract terms

The initial term of a contract entered into under subsection (c)(2) shall be 240 months. The Secretary shall, to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, extend any expiring contract for a term of not less than 60 months. In order to facilitate the orderly extension of expiring contracts, the Secretary is authorized to make commitments to extend expiring contracts during the year prior to the date of expiration.

(e) ApplicationsFunds made available under this section shall be allocated by the Secretary among approvable applications submitted by private nonprofit organizations. Applications for assistance under this section shall be submitted by an applicant in such form and in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary shall establish. Such applications shall contain—
(1) a description of the proposed housing;
(2) a description of the assistance the applicant seeks under this section;
(3) a description of the resources that are expected to be made available in compliance with subsection (h);
(4) a description of (A) the category or categories of elderly persons the housing is intended to serve; (B) the supportive services, if any, to be provided to the persons occupying such housing; (C) the manner in which such services will be provided to such persons, including, in the case of frail elderly persons, evidence of such residential supervision as the Secretary determines is necessary to facilitate the adequate provision of such services; and (D) the public or private sources of assistance that can reasonably be expected to fund or provide such services;
(5) a certification from the public official responsible for submitting a housing strategy for the jurisdiction to be served in accordance with section 12705 of title 42 that the proposed project is consistent with the approved housing strategy; and
(6) such other information or certifications that the Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this section.
The Secretary shall not reject an application on technical grounds without giving notice of that rejection and the basis therefor to the applicant and affording the applicant an opportunity to respond.
(f) Initial selection criteria and processing
(1) Selection criteriaThe Secretary shall establish selection criteria for assistance under this section, which shall include—
(A) the ability of the applicant to develop and operate the proposed housing;
(B) the need for supportive housing for the elderly in the area to be served, taking into consideration the availability of public housing for the elderly and vacancy rates in such facilities;
(C) the extent to which the proposed size and unit mix of the housing will enable the applicant to manage and operate the housing efficiently and ensure that the provision of supportive services will be accomplished in an economical fashion;
(D) the extent to which the proposed design of the housing will meet the special physical needs of elderly persons;
(E) the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated that the supportive services identified in subsection (e)(4) will be provided on a consistent, long-term basis;
(F) the extent to which the applicant has ensured that a service coordinator will be employed or otherwise retained for the housing, who has the managerial capacity and responsibility for carrying out the actions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (g)(2);
(G) the extent to which the proposed design of the housing will accommodate the provision of supportive services that are expected to be needed, either initially or over the useful life of the housing, by the category or categories of elderly persons the housing is intended to serve; and
(H) such other factors as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to ensure that funds made available under this section are used effectively.
(2) Delegated processing
(A) The Secretary shall establish procedures to delegate the award, review and processing of projects, selected by the Secretary in a national competition, to a State or local housing agency that—
(i) is in geographic proximity to the property;
(ii) has demonstrated experience in and capacity for underwriting multifamily housing loans that provide housing and supportive services;
(iii) may or may not be providing low-income housing tax credits in combination with the funding under this section; and
(iv) agrees to issue a firm commitment within 12 months of delegation.
(B) The Secretary shall retain the authority to process funding under this section in cases in which no State or local housing agency has applied to provide delegated processing pursuant to this paragraph or no such agency has entered into an agreement with the Secretary to serve as a delegated processing agency.
(C) The Secretary shall develop a schedule for reasonable fees under this subparagraph to be paid to delegated processing agencies, which shall take into consideration any other fees to be paid to the agency for other funding provided to the project by the agency, including bonds, tax credits, and other gap funding.
(D) Assistance under subsection (c)(2) may be provided for projects which identify in the application for assistance a defined health and other supportive services program including sources of financing the services for eligible residents and memoranda of understanding with service provision agencies and organizations to provide such services for eligible residents at their request. Such supportive services plan and memoranda of understating shall—
(i) identify the target populations to be served by the project;
(ii) set forth methods for outreach and referral;
(iii) identify the health and other supportive services to be provided; and
(iv) identify the terms under which such services will be made available to residents of the project.
(E) Under such delegated system, the Secretary shall retain the authority to approve rents and development costs and to execute funding under this section within 60 days of receipt of the commitment from the State or local agency. The Secretary shall provide to such agency and the project sponsor, in writing, the reasons for any reduction in funding under this section and such reductions shall be subject to appeal.
(g) Provisions of services
(1) In general

In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall ensure that housing assisted under this section provides a range of services tailored to the needs of the category or categories of elderly persons (including frail elderly persons) occupying such housing. Such services may include (A) meal service adequate to meet nutritional need; (B) housekeeping aid; (C) personal assistance; (D) transportation services; (E) health-related services; (F) providing education and outreach regarding telemarketing fraud, in accordance with the standards issued under section 671(f) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13631(f)); and (G) such other services as the Secretary deems essential for maintaining independent living. The Secretary may permit the provision of services to elderly persons who are not residents if the participation of such persons will not adversely affect the cost-effectiveness or operation of the program or add significantly to the need for assistance under this Act.

(2) Local coordination of servicesThe Secretary shall ensure that owners have the managerial capacity to—
(A) assess on an ongoing basis the service needs of residents;
(B) coordinate the provision of supportive services and tailor such services to the individual needs of residents; and
(C) seek on a continuous basis new sources of assistance to ensure the long-term provision of supportive services.
Any cost associated with this subsection shall be an eligible cost under subsection (c)(2).
(3) Service coordinators

Any cost associated with employing or otherwise retaining a service coordinator in housing assisted under this section shall be considered an eligible cost under subsection (c)(2). If a project is receiving congregate housing services assistance under section 8011 of title 42, the amount of costs provided under subsection (c)(2) for the project service coordinator may not exceed the additional amount necessary to cover the costs of providing for the coordination of services for residents of the project who are not eligible residents under such section 8011 of title 42. To the extent that amounts are available pursuant to subsection (c)(2) for the costs of carrying out this paragraph within a project, an owner of housing assisted under this section shall provide a service coordinator for the housing to coordinate the provision of services under this subsection within the housing.

(h) Development cost limitations
(1) In generalThe Secretary shall periodically establish reasonable development cost limitations by market area for various types and sizes of supportive housing for the elderly by publishing a notice of the cost limitations in the Federal Register. The cost limitations shall reflect—
(A) the cost of construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of supportive housing for the elderly that meets applicable State and local housing and building codes;
(B) the cost of movables necessary to the basic operation of the housing, as determined by the Secretary;
(C) the cost of special design features necessary to make the housing accessible to elderly persons;
(D) the cost of special design features necessary to make individual dwelling units meet the physical needs of elderly project residents;
(E) the cost of congregate space necessary to accommodate the provision of supportive services to elderly project residents;
(F) if the housing is newly constructed, the cost of meeting the energy efficiency standards promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with section 12709 of title 42; and
(G) the cost of land, including necessary site improvement.
In establishing development cost limitations for a given market area under this subsection, the Secretary shall use data that reflect currently prevailing costs of construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation, and land acquisition in the area. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “congregate space” shall include space for cafeterias or dining halls, community rooms or buildings, workshops, adult day health facilities, or other outpatient health facilities, or other essential service facilities. Neither this section nor any other provision of law may be construed as prohibiting or preventing the location and operation, in a project assisted under this section, of commercial facilities for the benefit of residents of the project and the community in which the project is located, except that assistance made available under this section may not be used to subsidize any such commercial facility.
(2) AcquisitionIn the case of existing housing and related facilities to be acquired, the cost limitations shall include—
(A) the cost of acquiring such housing,
(B) the cost of rehabilitation, alteration, conversion, or improvement, including the moderate rehabilitation thereof, and
(C) the cost of the land on which the housing and related facilities are located.
(3) Annual adjustments

The Secretary shall adjust the cost limitation not less than once annually to reflect changes in the general level of construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation costs.

(4) Incentives for savings
(A) Special housing accountThe Secretary shall use the development cost limitations established under paragraph (1) or (2) to calculate the amount of financing to be made available to individual owners. Owners which incur actual development costs that are less than the amount of financing shall be entitled to retain 50 percent of the savings in a special housing account. Such percentage shall be increased to 75 percent for owners which add energy efficiency features which—
(i) exceed the energy efficiency standards promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with section 12709 of title 42;
(ii) substantially reduce the life-cycle cost of the housing;
(iii) reduce gross rent requirements; and
(iv) enhance tenant comfort and convenience.
(B) Uses

The special housing account established under subparagraph (A) may be used (i) to supplement services provided to residents of the housing or funds set aside for replacement reserves, or (ii) for such other purposes as determined by the Secretary.

(5) Design flexibility

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, give owners the flexibility to design housing appropriate to their location and proposed resident population within broadly defined parameters.

(6) Use of funds from other sources

An owner shall be permitted voluntarily to provide funds from sources other than this section for amenities and other features of appropriate design and construction suitable for supportive housing for the elderly if the cost of such amenities is (A) not financed with the advance, and (B) is not taken into account in determining the amount of Federal assistance or of the rent contribution of tenants. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, assistance amounts provided under this section may be treated as amounts not derived from a Federal grant.

(i) Tenant selection
(1) In general

An owner shall adopt written tenant selection procedures that are satisfactory to the Secretary as (A) consistent with the purpose of improving housing opportunities for very low-income elderly persons; and (B) reasonably related to program eligibility and an applicant’s ability to perform the obligations of the lease. Such tenant selection procedures shall comply with subtitle C of title VI of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 [42 U.S.C. 13601 et seq.] and any regulations issued under such subtitle. Owners shall promptly notify in writing any rejected applicant of the grounds for any rejection.

(2) Information regarding housing under this section

The Secretary shall provide to an appropriate agency in each area (which may be the applicable Area Agency on the Aging) information regarding the availability of housing assisted under this section.

(j) Miscellaneous provisions
(1) Technical assistance

The Secretary shall make available appropriate technical assistance to assure that applicants having limited resources, particularly minority applicants, are able to participate more fully in the program carried out under this section.

(2) Civil rights compliance

Each owner shall certify, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that assistance made available under this section will be conducted and administered in conformity with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.], the Fair Housing Act [42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.], and other Federal, State, and local laws prohibiting discrimination and promoting equal opportunity.

(3) Owner deposit
(A) In general

The Secretary shall require an owner to deposit an amount not to exceed $25,000 in a special escrow account to assure the owner’s commitment to the housing. Such amount shall be used only to cover operating deficits during the first 3 years of operations and shall not be used to cover construction shortfalls or inadequate initial project rental assistance amounts.

(B) Reduction of requirement

The Secretary may reduce or waive the owner deposit specified under paragraph (1) for individual applicants if the Secretary finds that such waiver or reduction is necessary to achieve the purposes of this section and the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that it has the capacity to manage and maintain the housing in accordance with this section. The Secretary shall reduce or waive the requirement of the owner deposit under paragraph (1) in the case of a nonprofit applicant that is not affiliated with a national sponsor, as determined by the Secretary.

(4) Notice of appeal

The Secretary shall notify an owner not less than 30 days prior to canceling any reservation of assistance provided under this section. During the 30-day period following the receipt of a notice under the preceding sentence, an owner may appeal the proposed cancellation of loan authority. Such appeal, including review by the Secretary, shall be completed not later than 45 days after the appeal is filed.

(5) Labor
(A) In general

The Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors in the construction of housing with 12 or more units assisted under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than the rates prevailing in the locality involved for the corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on construction of a similar character, as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40.

(B) ExemptionSubparagraph (A) shall not apply to any individual who—
(i) performs services for which the individual volunteered;
(ii)(I) does not receive compensation for such services; or(II) is paid expenses, reasonable benefits, or a nominal fee for such services; and
(iii) is not otherwise employed at any time in the construction work.
(6) Access to residual receipts

The Secretary shall authorize the owner of a project assisted under this section to use any residual receipts held for the project in excess of $500 per unit (or in excess of such other amount prescribed by the Secretary based on the needs of the project) for activities to retrofit and renovate the project described under section 8011(d)(3) of title 42, to provide a service coordinator for the project as described in section 8011(d)(4) of title 42, or to provide supportive services (as such term is defined in section 8011(k) of title 42) to residents of the project. Any owner that uses residual receipts under this paragraph shall submit to the Secretary a report, not less than annually, describing the uses of the residual receipts. In determining the amount of project rental assistance to be provided to a project under subsection (c)(2) of this section, the Secretary may take into consideration the residual receipts held for the project only if, and to the extent that, excess residual receipts are not used under this paragraph.

(7) Compliance with Housing and Community Development Act of 1992

Each owner shall operate housing assisted under this section in compliance with subtitle C of title VI of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 [42 U.S.C. 13601 et seq.] and any regulations issued under such subtitle.

(8) Use of project reserves

Amounts for project reserves for a project assisted under this section may be used for costs, subject to reasonable limitations as the Secretary determines appropriate, for reducing the number of dwelling units in the project. Such use shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary to ensure that the use is designed to retrofit units that are currently obsolete or unmarketable.

(9) Carbon monoxide alarmsEach owner of a dwelling unit assisted under this section shall ensure that carbon monoxide alarms or detectors are installed in the dwelling unit in a manner that meets or exceeds—
(A) the standards described in chapters 9 and 11 of the 2018 publication of the International Fire Code, as published by the International Code Council; or
(B) any other standards as may be adopted by the Secretary, including any relevant updates to the International Fire Code, through a notice published in the Federal Register.
(k) Definitions
(1) The term “elderly person” means a household composed of one or more persons at least one of whom is 62 years of age or more at the time of initial occupancy.
(2) The term “frail elderly” means an elderly person who is unable to perform at least 3 activities of daily living adopted by the Secretary for purposes of this program. Owners may establish additional eligibility requirements (acceptable to the Secretary) based on the standards in local supportive services programs.
(3) The term “owner” means a private nonprofit organization that receives assistance under this section to develop and operate supportive housing for the elderly.
(4) The term “private nonprofit organization” means—
(A) any incorporated private institution or foundation—
(i) no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;
(ii) which has a governing board—(I) the membership of which is selected in a manner to assure that there is significant representation of the views of the community in which such housing is located; and(II) which is responsible for the operation of the housing assisted under this section, except that, in the case of a nonprofit organization that is the sponsoring organization of multiple housing projects assisted under this section, the Secretary may determine the criteria or conditions under which financial, compliance and other administrative responsibilities exercised by a single-entity private nonprofit organization that is the owner corporation responsible for the operation of an individual housing project may be shared or transferred to the governing board of such sponsoring organization; and
(iii) which is approved by the Secretary as to financial responsibility; and
(B) a for-profit limited partnership the sole general partner of which is—
(i) an organization meeting the requirements under subparagraph (A);
(ii) a for-profit corporation wholly owned and controlled by one or more organizations meeting the requirements under subparagraph (A); or
(iii) a limited liability company wholly owned and controlled by one or more organizations meeting the requirements under subparagraph (A).
(5) The term “State” includes the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the possessions of the United States.
(6) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(7) The term “supportive housing for the elderly” means housing that is designed (A) to meet the special physical needs of elderly persons and (B) to accommodate the provision of supportive services that are expected to be needed, either initially or over the useful life of the housing, by the category or categories of elderly persons that the housing is intended to serve.
(8) The term “very low-income” has the same meaning as given the term “very low-income families” under section 1437a(b)(2) of title 42.
(l) Allocation of funds
(1) Capital advances

Of any amounts made available for assistance under this section, such sums as may be necessary shall be available for funding capital advances in accordance with subsection (c)(1). Such amounts, the repayments from such advances, and the proceeds from notes or obligations issued under this section prior to November 28, 1990, shall constitute a revolving fund to be used by the Secretary in carrying out this section.

(2) Project rental assistance

Of any amounts made available for assistance under this section, such sums as may be necessary shall be available for funding project rental assistance in accordance with subsection (c)(2).

(3) Nonmetropolitan allocation

Not less than 15 percent of the funds made available for assistance under this section shall be allocated by the Secretary on a national basis for nonmetropolitan areas. In complying with this paragraph, the Secretary shall either operate a national competition for the nonmetropolitan funds or make allocations to regional offices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(m) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for providing assistance under this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

(m)1
1 So in original. Probably should be “(n)”.
Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for providing assistance under this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

(Pub. L. 86–372, title II, § 202, Sept. 23, 1959, 73 Stat. 667; Pub. L. 87–70, title II, § 201, June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 162; Pub. L. 87–723, § 3, Sept. 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 670; Pub. L. 88–158, Oct. 24, 1963, 77 Stat. 278; Pub. L. 88–560, title II, §§ 201, 203(a)(2), Sept. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 783; Pub. L. 89–117, title I, § 105(a), (b)(1), formerly § 105, Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 457, renumbered Pub. L. 89–754, title X, § 1001(1), (2), Nov. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 1284; Pub. L. 90–19, § 16(a), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 25; Pub. L. 90–448, title XVII, § 1706, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 605; Pub. L. 91–152, title II, § 218, Dec. 24, 1969, 83 Stat. 390; Pub. L. 93–383, title II, § 210(a)–(f), Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 669–671; Pub. L. 94–375, § 11, Aug. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1074; Pub. L. 95–128, title II, § 202, Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1129; Pub. L. 95–557, title II, § 205, Oct. 31, 1978,
§ 1701q–1. Civil money penalties against mortgagors under section 1701q of this title
(a) In general

The penalties set forth in this section shall be in addition to any other available civil remedy or criminal penalty, and may be imposed whether or not the Secretary imposes other administrative sanctions. The Secretary may not impose penalties under this section for violations a material cause of which are the failure of the Department, an agent of the Department, or a public housing agency to comply with existing agreements.

(b) Penalty for violation of agreement as condition of transfer of physical assets, flexible subsidy loan, capital improvement loan, modification of mortgage terms, or workout agreement
(1) In general

Whenever a mortgagor of property that includes 5 or more living units and that has a mortgage held pursuant to section 1701q of this title, who has agreed in writing, as a condition of a transfer of physical assets, a flexible subsidy loan, a capital improvement loan, a modification of the mortgage terms, or a workout agreement, to use nonproject income to make cash contributions for payments due under the note and mortgage, for payments to the reserve for replacements, to restore the project to good physical condition, or to pay other project liabilities, knowingly and materially fails to comply with any of these commitments, the Secretary may impose a civil money penalty on the mortgagor in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(2) Amount

The amount of the penalty, as determined by the Secretary, for a violation of this subsection may not exceed the amount of the loss the Secretary would incur at a foreclosure sale, or sale after foreclosure, with respect to the property involved.

(c) Violations of regulatory agreement
(1) In general
The Secretary may also impose a civil money penalty on a mortgagor or property that includes 5 or more living units and that has a mortgage held pursuant to section 1701q of this title for any knowing and material violation of the regulatory agreement executed by the mortgagor, as follows:
(A) Conveyance, transfer, or encumbrance of any of the mortgaged property, or permitting the conveyance, transfer, or encumbrance of such property, without the prior written approval of the Secretary.
(B) Assignment, transfer, disposition, or encumbrance of any personal property of the project, including rents, or paying out any funds, except for reasonable operating expenses and necessary repairs, without the prior written approval of the Secretary.
(C) Conveyance, assignment, or transfer of any beneficial interest in any trust holding title to the property, or the interest of any general partner in a partnership owning the property, or any right to manage or receive the rents and profits from the mortgaged property, without the prior written approval of the Secretary.
(D) Remodeling, adding to, reconstructing, or demolishing any part of the mortgaged property or subtracting from any real or personal property of the project, without the prior written approval of the Secretary.
(E) Requiring, as a condition of the occupancy or leasing of any unit in the project, any consideration or deposit other than the prepayment of the first month’s rent, plus a security deposit in an amount not in excess of 1 month’s rent, to guarantee the performance of the covenants of the lease.
(F) Not holding any funds collected as security deposits separate and apart from all other funds of the project in a trust account, the amount of which at all times equals or exceeds the aggregate of all outstanding obligations under the account.
(G) Payment for services, supplies, or materials which exceeds $500 and substantially exceeds the amount ordinarily paid for such services, supplies, or materials in the area where the services are rendered or the supplies or materials furnished.
(H) Failure to maintain at any time the mortgaged property, equipment, buildings, plans, offices, apparatus, devices, books, contracts, records, documents, and other related papers (including failure to keep copies of all written contracts or other instruments which affect the mortgaged property) in reasonable condition for proper audit and for examination and inspection at any reasonable time by the Secretary or any duly authorized agents of the Secretary.
(I) Failure to maintain the books and accounts of the operations of the mortgaged property and of the project in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Secretary.
(J) Failure to furnish the Secretary, by the expiration of the 60-day period beginning on the 1st day after the completion of each fiscal year, with a complete annual financial report based upon an examination of the books and records of the mortgagor prepared in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Secretary, and prepared and certified to by an independent public accountant or a certified public accountant and certified to by an officer of the mortgagor, unless the Secretary has approved an extension of the 60-day period in writing. The Secretary shall approve an extension where the mortgagor demonstrates that failure to comply with this subparagraph is due to events beyond the control of the mortgagor.
(K) At the request of the Secretary, the agents of the Secretary, the employees of the Secretary, or the attorneys of the Secretary, failure to furnish monthly occupancy reports or failure to provide specific answers to questions upon which information is sought relative to income, assets, liabilities, contracts, the operation and condition of the property, or the status of the mortgage.
(L) Failure to make promptly all payments due under the note and mortgage, including tax and insurance escrow payments, and payments to the reserve for replacements when there is adequate project income available to make such payments.
(M) Amending the articles of incorporation or bylaws, other than as permitted under the terms of the articles of incorporation as approved by the Secretary, without the prior written approval of the Secretary.
(2) Amount of penalty

A penalty imposed for a violation under this subsection, as determined by the Secretary, may not exceed $25,000 for a violation of any of the subparagraphs of paragraph (1).

(d) Agency procedures
(1) Establishment
The Secretary shall establish standards and procedures governing the imposition of civil money penalties under subsections (b) and (c). These standards and procedures—
(A) shall provide for the Secretary or other department official (such as the Assistant Secretary for Housing) to make the determination to impose a penalty;
(B) shall provide for the imposition of a penalty only after the mortgagor has been given an opportunity for a hearing on the record; and
(C) may provide for review by the Secretary of any determination or order, or interlocutory ruling, arising from a hearing.
(2) Final orders

If no hearing is requested within 15 days of receipt of the notice of opportunity for hearing, the imposition of the penalty shall constitute a final and unappealable determination. If the Secretary reviews the determination or order, the Secretary may affirm, modify, or reverse that determination or order. If the Secretary does not review the determination or order within 90 days of the issuance of the determination or order, the determination or order shall be final.

(3) Factors in determining amount of penalty

In determining the amount of a penalty under subsection (b) or (c), consideration shall be given to such factors as the gravity of the offense, any history of prior offenses (including offenses occurring before December 15, 1989), ability to pay the penalty, injury to the tenants, injury to the public, benefits received, deterrence of future violations, and such other factors as the Secretary may determine in regulations to be appropriate.

(4) Reviewability of imposition of penalty

The Secretary’s determination or order imposing a penalty under subsection (b) or (c) shall not be subject to review, except as provided in subsection (e).

(e) Judicial review of agency determination
(1) In general

After exhausting all administrative remedies established by the Secretary under subsection (d)(1), a mortgagor against whom the Secretary has imposed a civil money penalty under subsection (b) or (c) may obtain a review of the penalty and such ancillary issues as may be addressed in the notice of determination to impose a penalty under subsection (d)(1)(A) in the appropriate court of appeals of the United States, by filing in such court, within 20 days after the entry of such order or determination, a written petition praying that the Secretary’s order or determination be modified or be set aside in whole or in part.

(2) Objections not raised in hearing

The court shall not consider any objection that was not raised in the hearing conducted pursuant to subsection (d)(1) unless a demonstration is made of extraordinary circumstances causing the failure to raise the objection. If any party demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court that additional evidence not presented at such hearing is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to present such evidence at the hearing, the court shall remand the matter to the Secretary for consideration of such additional evidence.

(3) Scope of review

The decisions, findings, and determinations of the Secretary shall be reviewed pursuant to section 706 of title 5.

(4) Order to pay penalty

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any such review, the court shall have the power to order payment of the penalty imposed by the Secretary.

(f) Action to collect penalty

If a mortgagor fails to comply with the Secretary’s determination or order imposing a civil money penalty under subsection (b) or (c), after the determination or order is no longer subject to review as provided by subsections (d)(1) and (e), the Secretary may request the Attorney General of the United States to bring an action in an appropriate United States district court to obtain a monetary judgment against the mortgagor and such other relief as may be available. The monetary judgment may, in the court’s discretion, include the attorneys fees and other expenses incurred by the United States in connection with the action. In an action under this subsection, the validity and appropriateness of the Secretary’s determination or order imposing the penalty shall not be subject to review.

(g) Settlement by Secretary

The Secretary may compromise, modify, or remit any civil money penalty which may be, or has been, imposed under this section.

(h) “Knowingly” defined

The term “knowingly” means having actual knowledge of or acting with deliberate ignorance of or reckless disregard for the prohibitions under this section.

(i) Regulations

The Secretary shall issue such regulations as the Secretary deems appropriate to implement this section.

(j) Deposit of penalties in insurance funds

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all civil money penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the fund established under section 1715z–1a(j) of this title.

(Pub. L. 86–372, title II, § 202a, as added Pub. L. 101–235, title I, § 109(a), Dec. 15, 1989, 103 Stat. 2007.)
§ 1701q–2. Grants for conversion of elderly housing to assisted living facilities and other purposes
(a) Grant authorityThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make grants in accordance with this section to owners of eligible projects described in subsection (b) for one or both of the following activities:
(1) Repairs

Substantial capital repairs to projects that are needed to rehabilitate, modernize, or retrofit aging structures, common areas, or individual dwelling units.

(2) Conversion
(A) Assisted living facilities

Activities designed to convert dwelling units in the eligible project to assisted living facilities for elderly persons.

(B) Service-enriched housing

Activities designed to convert dwelling units in the eligible project to service-enriched housing for elderly persons.

(b) Eligible projectsAn eligible project described in this subsection is a multifamily housing project that is—
(1)
(A) described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of section 13641(2) of title 42, or (B) only to the extent amounts of the Department of Agriculture are made available to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for such grants under this section for such projects, subject to a loan made or insured under section 1485 of title 42;
(2) owned by a private nonprofit organization (as such term is defined in section 1701q of this title); and
(3) designated primarily for occupancy by elderly persons.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection or this section, an unused or underutilized commercial property may be considered an eligible project under this subsection, except that the Secretary may not provide grants under this section for more than three such properties. For any such projects, any reference under this section to dwelling units shall be considered to refer to the premises of such properties.
(c) ApplicationsApplications for grants under this section shall be submitted to the Secretary in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary shall establish. Such applications shall contain—
(1) a description of the substantial capital repairs or the proposed conversion activities for either an assisted living facility or service-enriched housing for which a grant under this section is requested;
(2) the amount of the grant requested to complete the substantial capital repairs or conversion activities;
(3) a description of the resources that are expected to be made available, if any, in conjunction with the grant under this section; and
(4) such other information or certifications that the Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(d) Requirements for services
(1) Sufficient evidence of firm funding commitments

The Secretary may not make a grant under this section for conversion activities unless an application for a grant submitted pursuant to subsection (c) contains sufficient evidence, in the determination of the Secretary, of firm commitments for the funding of services to be provided in the assisted living facility or service-enriched housing, which may be provided by third parties.

(2) Required evidenceThe Secretary shall require evidence that each recipient of a grant for service-enriched housing under this section provides relevant and timely disclosure of information to residents or potential residents of such housing relating to—
(A) the services that will be available at the property to each resident, including—
(i) the right to accept, decline, or choose such services and to have the choice of provider;
(ii) the services made available by or contracted through the grantee;
(iii) the identity of, and relevant information for, all agencies or organizations providing any services to residents, which agencies or organizations shall provide information regarding all procedures and requirements to obtain services, any charges or rates for the services, and the rights and responsibilities of the residents related to those services;
(B) the availability, identity, contact information, and role of the service coordinator; and
(C) such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to ensure that residents are adequately informed of the services options available to promote resident independence and quality of life.
(e) Selection criteriaThe Secretary shall select applications for grants under this section based upon selection criteria, which shall be established by the Secretary and shall include—
(1) in the case of a grant for substantial capital repairs, the extent to which the project to be repaired is in need of such repair, including such factors as the age of improvements to be repaired, and the impact on the health and safety of residents of failure to make such repairs;
(2) in the case of a grant for conversion activities, the extent to which the conversion is likely to provide assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing that are needed or are expected to be needed by the categories of elderly persons that the assisted living facility 1
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by “or”.
service-enriched housing is intended to serve, with a special emphasis on very low-income elderly persons who need assistance with activities of daily living;
(3) the inability of the applicant to fund the repairs or conversion activities from existing financial resources, as evidenced by the applicant’s financial records, including assets in the applicant’s residual receipts account and reserves for replacement account;
(4) the extent to which the applicant has evidenced community support for the repairs or conversion, by such indicators as letters of support from the local community for the repairs or conversion and financial contributions from public and private sources;
(5) in the case of a grant for conversion activities, the extent to which the applicant demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting the autonomy and independence of the elderly persons that the assisted living facility or service-enriched housing is intended to serve;
(6) in the case of a grant for conversion activities, the quality, completeness, and managerial capability of providing the services which the assisted living facility or service-enriched housing intends to provide to elderly residents, especially in such areas as meals, 24-hour staffing, and on-site health care; and
(7) such other criteria as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to ensure that funds made available under this section are used effectively.
(f) Section 8 project-based assistance
(1) Eligibility

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a multifamily project which includes one or more dwelling units that have been converted to assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing using grants made under this section shall be eligible for project-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f], in the same manner in which the project would be eligible for such assistance but for the assisted living facilities or service-enriched housing in the project.

(2) Calculation of rent

For assistance pursuant to this subsection, the maximum monthly rent of a dwelling unit that is an assisted living facility or service-enriched housing with respect to which assistance payments are made shall not include charges attributable to services relating to assisted living.

(g) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—
(1) the term “assisted living facility” has the meaning given such term in section 1715w(b) of this title;
(2) the term “service-enriched housing” means housing that—
(A) makes available through licensed or certified third party service providers supportive services to assist the residents in carrying out activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed or chairs, walking, going outdoors, using the toilet, laundry, home management, preparing meals, shopping for personal items, obtaining and taking medication, managing money, using the telephone, or performing light or heavy housework, and which may make available to residents home health care services, such as nursing and therapy;
(B) includes the position of service coordinator, which may be funded as an operating expense of the property;
(C) provides separate dwelling units for residents, each of which contains a full kitchen and bathroom and which includes common rooms and other facilities appropriate for the provision of supportive services to the residents of the housing; and
(D) provides residents with control over health care and supportive services decisions, including the right to accept, decline, or choose such services, and to have the choice of provider; and
(3) the definitions in section 1701(q)(k) 2
2 See References in Text note below.
of this title shall apply.
(h) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated for providing grants under this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000.

(Pub. L. 86–372, title II, § 202b, as added and amended Pub. L. 106–74, title V, §§ 522, 523(b), Oct. 20, 1999, 113 Stat. 1103, 1105; Pub. L. 111–372, title III, § 301, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4082.)
§ 1701q–3. Funds for housing for elderly and persons with disabilities available for cost of maintenance and disposal of such properties

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for this fiscal year and every fiscal year thereafter, funds appropriated for housing for the elderly, as authorized by section 1701q of this title, as amended, and for supportive housing for persons with disabilities, as authorized by section 8013 of title 42, shall be available for the cost of maintaining and disposing of such properties that are acquired or otherwise become the responsibility of the Department.

(Pub. L. 109–115, div. A, title III, § 313, Nov. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2463.)
§ 1701r. Congressional findings respecting housing for senior citizens

The Congress finds that there is a large and growing need for suitable housing for older people both in urban and rural areas. Our older citizens face special problems in meeting their housing needs because of the prevalence of modest and limited incomes among the elderly, their difficulty in obtaining liberal long-term home mortgage credit, and their need for housing planned and designed to include features necessary to the safety and convenience of the occupants in a suitable neighborhood environment. The Congress further finds that the present programs for housing the elderly under the Department of Housing and Urban Development have proven the value of Federal credit assistance in this field and at the same time demonstrated the urgent need for an expanded and more comprehensive effort to meet our responsibilities to our senior citizens.

(Pub. L. 87–723, § 2, Sept. 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 670; Pub. L. 90–19, § 19, May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 25.)
§ 1701r–1. Pet ownership in assisted rental housing for the elderly or handicapped
(a) Restrictions on ownership
No owner or manager of any federally assisted rental housing for the elderly or handicapped may—
(1) as a condition of tenancy or otherwise, prohibit or prevent any tenant in such housing from owning common household pets or having common household pets living in the dwelling accommodations of such tenant in such housing; or
(2) restrict or discriminate against any person in connection with admission to, or continued occupancy of, such housing by reason of the ownership of such pets by, or the presence of such pets in the dwelling accommodations of, such person.
(b) Rules and regulations
(1) Not later than the expiration of the twelve-month period following November 30, 1983, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each issue such regulations as may be necessary to ensure (A) compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) with respect to any program of assistance referred to in subsection (d) that is administered by such Secretary; and (B) attaining the goal of providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing for the elderly or handicapped.
(2) Such regulations shall establish guidelines under which the owner or manager of any federally assisted rental housing for the elderly or handicapped (A) may prescribe reasonable rules for the keeping of pets by tenants in such housing; and (B) shall consult with the tenants of such housing in prescribing such rules. Such rules may consider factors such as density of tenants, pet size, types of pets, potential financial obligations of tenants, and standards of pet care.
(c) Removal of pets constituting a nuisance

Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit any owner or manager of federally assisted rental housing for the elderly or handicapped, or any local housing authority or other appropriate authority of the community where such housing is located, from requiring the removal from any such housing of any pet whose conduct or condition is duly determined to constitute a nuisance or a threat to the health or safety of the other occupants of such housing or of other persons in the community where such housing is located.

(d) “Federally assisted rental housing for the elderly or handicapped” defined
For purposes of this section, the term “federally assisted rental housing for the elderly or handicapped” means any rental housing project that—
(1) is assisted under section 1701q of this title; or
(2) is assisted under the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.], the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], or title V of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.], and is designated for occupancy by elderly or handicapped families, as such term is defined in section 1701q(d)(4) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of this title.
(Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title II, § 227], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1195.)
§ 1701s. Rent supplement payments for qualified lower income families
(a) Authorization; maximum term; maximum aggregate amount

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) is authorized to make, and contract to make, annual payments to a “housing owner” on behalf of “qualified tenants”, as those terms are defined herein, in such amounts and under such circumstances as are prescribed in or pursuant to this section. In no case shall a contract provide for such payments with respect to any housing for a period exceeding forty years. The aggregate amount of the contracts to make such payments shall not exceed amounts approved in appropriation Acts, and payments pursuant to such contracts shall not exceed $150,000,000 per annum prior to July 1, 1969, which maximum dollar amount shall be increased by $40,000,000, on July 1, 1969, by $100,000,000 on July 1, 1970, and by $40,000,000 on July 1, 1971.

(b) “Housing owner” defined; limitation on payments to housing owner

As used in this section, the term “housing owner” means a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is a mortgagor under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(3)] and which, after August 10, 1965, has been approved for mortgage insurance thereunder and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section: Provided, That, except as provided in subsection (j), no payments under this section may be made with respect to any property financed with a mortgage receiving the benefits of the interest rate provided for in the proviso in section 221(d)(5) of that Act [12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(5)]. Such term also includes a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is the owner of a rental or cooperative housing project financed under a State or local program providing assistance through loans, loan insurance, or tax abatement and which may involve either new or existing construction and which is approved for receiving the benefits of this section. Subject to the limitations provided in subsection (j), the term “housing owner” also has the meaning prescribed in such subsection. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing payments to a housing owner with respect to projects in which all or part of the dwelling units do not contain kitchen facilities; but of the total amount of contracts to make annual payments approved in appropriation Acts pursuant to subsection (a) after December 31, 1970, not more than 10 per centum in the aggregate shall be made with respect to such projects.

(c) DefinitionsAs used in this section, the term—
(1) “qualified tenant” means any individual or family having an income which would qualify such individual or family for assistance under section 1437f of title 42, except that such term shall also include any individual or family who was receiving assistance under this section on the day preceding December 21, 1979, so long as such individual or family continues to meet the conditions for such assistance which were in effect on such day; and
(2) “income” means income from all sources of each member of the household, as determined in accordance with criteria prescribed by the Secretary. In determining amounts to be excluded from income, the Secretary may, in the Secretary’s discretion, take into account the number of minor children in the household and such other factors as the Secretary may determine are appropriate.
The terms “qualified tenant” and “tenant” include a member of a cooperative who satisfies the foregoing requirements and who, upon resale of his membership to the cooperative, will not be reimbursed for any equity increment accumulated through payments under this section. With respect to members of a cooperative, the terms “rental” and “rental charges” mean the charges under the occupancy agreements between such members and the cooperative.
(d) Annual payment amount

The amount of the annual payment with respect to any dwelling unit shall be the lesser of (1) 70 per centum of the fair market rent, or (2) the amount by which the fair market rental for such unit exceeds 30 per centum of the tenant’s adjusted income.

(e) Criteria and procedure for determining eligibility and rental charges; recertification of income; agreements for services required in selection of tenants; delegation of authority to issue certificates
(1) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall establish criteria and procedures for determining the eligibility of occupants and rental charges, including criteria and procedures with respect to periodic review of tenant incomes and periodic adjustment of rental charges.
(2) Procedures adopted by the Secretary hereunder shall provide for recertifications of the incomes of occupants no less frequently than annually for the purpose of adjusting rental charges and annual payments on the basis of occupants’ incomes, but in no event shall rental charges adjusted under this section for any dwelling exceed the fair market rental of the dwelling.
(3) The Secretary may enter into agreements, or authorize housing owners to enter into agreements, with public or private agencies for services required in the selection of qualified tenants, including those who may be approved, on the basis of the probability of future increases in their incomes, as lessees under an option to purchase (which will give such approved qualified tenants an exclusive right to purchase at a price established or determined as provided in the option) dwellings, and in the establishment of rentals. The Secretary is authorized (without limiting his authority under any other provision of law) to delegate to any such public or private agency his authority to issue certificates pursuant to this subsection.
(4) No payments under this section may be made with respect to any property for which the costs of operation (including wages and salaries) are determined by the Secretary to be greater than similar costs of operation of similar housing in the community where the property is situated.
(f) Omitted
(g) Authority of Secretary

The Secretary is authorized to make such rules and regulations, to enter into such agreements, and to adopt such procedures as he may deem necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions of this section. Nothing contained in this section shall affect the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development with respect to any housing assisted under this section, section 221(d)(3), section 231(c)(3), or section 236 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(3), 1715v(c)(3), 1715z–1], or section 1701q of this title, including the authority to prescribe occupancy requirements under other provisions of law or to determine the portion of such housing which may be occupied by qualified tenants. To ensure that qualified tenants occupying that number of units with respect to which assistance was being provided under this section immediately prior to November 30, 1983, receive the benefit of assistance contracted for under this section, the Secretary shall offer annually to amend contracts entered into with owners of projects assisted under this section but not subject to mortgages insured under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.] to provide sufficient payments to cover 100 percent of the necessary rent increases and changes in the incomes of qualified tenants, subject to the availability of authority for such purpose under section 1437c(c) of title 42. The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that payments, including payments that reflect necessary rent increases and changes in the incomes of tenants, are made on a timely basis for all units covered by contracts entered into under this section.

(h) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, such sums as may be necessary to make annual payments as prescribed in this section, pay for services provided under (or pursuant to agreements entered into under) subsection (e), and provide administrative expenses.

(i) Omitted
(j) Additional definition of housing owner; restrictions on payments
(1) For the purpose of assisting housing under this section on an experimental basis, subject to the limitations of this subsection, the term “housing owner” (in addition to the meaning prescribed in subsection (b)) includes—
(A) a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is a mortgagor under a mortgage which receives the benefits of the interest rate provided for in the proviso in section 221(d)(5) of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(5)] and which, after August 10, 1965, has been approved for mortgage insurance under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section;
(B) a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity which is a mortgagor under a mortgage insured under section 231(c)(3) of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715v(c)(3)] and which, after August 10, 1965, has obtained final endorsement of such mortgage for mortgage insurance and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section;
(C) a private nonprofit corporation, a public body or agency, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is a borrower under section 1701q of this title and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section: Provided, That, with respect to properties financed with loans under such section made on or before August 10, 1965, payments shall not be made with respect to more than 20 per centum of the dwelling units in any property so financed; and
(D) a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is assisted under section 236 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715z–1] and which has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section: Provided, That payments shall not be made with respect to more than 20 per centum of the dwelling units in any property so financed, except that the foregoing limitation may be increased to 40 per centum of the dwelling units in any such property if the Secretary determines that such increase is necessary and desirable in order to provide additional housing for individuals and families meeting the requirements of subsection (c).
(2) Of the amounts approved in appropriation Acts pursuant to subsection (a) for payments under this section in any year, not more than 5 per centum in the aggregate shall be paid with respect to properties of housing owners as defined in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, and not more than 5 per centum in the aggregate shall be paid with respect to properties of housing owners as defined in paragraphs (1)(B) and (1)(C) of this subsection.
(k) Repealed. Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 514(d), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2548
(l) Additional available assistance authority

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) and any other provision of law, the Secretary may utilize additional authority under section 1437c(c) of title 42 made available by appropriation Acts on or after October 1, 1979, to supplement assistance authority available under this section. The Secretary shall utilize, to the extent necessary after September 30, 1984, any authority under this section that is recaptured either as the result of the conversion of housing projects covered by assistance under this section to contracts for assistance under section 1437f of title 42 or otherwise (1) for the purpose of making assistance payments, including amendments as provided in subsection (g), with respect to housing projects assisted under this section, but not subject to mortgages insured under the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], that remain covered by assistance under this section; and (2) if not required to provide assistance under this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of contracting for assistance payments under section 236(f)(2) of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715z–1(f)(2)].

(m) Payments for benefit of certain projects having mortgages made by State or local housing finance or government agenciesThe Secretary shall, not later than 45 days after receipt of an application by the mortgagee, provide interest reduction and rental assistance payments for the benefit of projects assisted under this section whose mortgages were made by State or local housing finance agencies or State or local government agencies for a term equal to the remaining mortgage term to maturity on projects assisted under this section to the extent of—
(1) unexpended balances of amounts of authority as set forth in certain letter agreements between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and such State or local housing finance agencies or State or local government agencies, and
(2) existing allocation under section 236 contracts on projects whose mortgages were made by State or local housing finance agencies or State or local government agencies which are not being funded, to the extent of such excess allocation, for any purposes permitted under the provisions of this section.
An application shall be eligible for assistance under the previous sentence only if the mortgagee submits the application within 548 days after February 5, 1988, along with a certification of the mortgagee that amounts are to be utilized hereunder for the purpose of either (A) reducing rents or rent increases to tenants, or (B) making repairs or otherwise increasing the economic viability of a related project. Unexpended balances referred to in the first sentence of this subsection which remain after disposition of all such applications is favorably concluded shall be rescinded. The authority conferred by this subsection to provide interest reduction and rental assistance payments shall be available only to the extent approved in appropriation Acts.
(Pub. L. 89–117, title I, § 101, Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 451; Pub. L. 90–19, § 22(a), (c), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 26; Pub. L. 90–448, title II, §§ 201(e), 202, title XI, § 1106(b), Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 502, 503, 567; Pub. L. 91–152, title I, § 112, Dec. 24, 1969, 83 Stat. 383; Pub. L. 91–609, title I, §§ 103, 114[115](c), 118(b), 120(a), (b), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1771, 1774, 1775; Pub. L. 96–153, title II, § 203(a), Dec. 21, 1979, 93 Stat. 1106; Pub. L. 96–399, Oct. 8, 1980, title II, § 205, 94 Stat. 1630; Pub. L. 97–35, title III, §§ 322(g), 327, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 403, 407; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title II, §§ 203(b)(3), 219], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1178, 1187; Pub. L. 98–479, title I, § 102(d), title II, § 204(e), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2222, 2233; Pub. L. 100–242, title I, §§ 167(a)(2), 168, 170(h), title IV, § 430(b), Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1864, 1867, 1920; Pub. L. 104–99, title IV, § 402(d)(5), Jan. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 42; Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 514(d), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2548.)
§ 1701t. Congressional affirmation of national goal of decent homes and suitable living environment for American families

The Congress affirms the national goal, as set forth in section 1441 of title 42, of “a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family”.

(Pub. L. 90–448, § 2, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 476.)
§ 1701u. Economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons
(a) Findings
The Congress finds that—
(1) Federal housing and community development programs provide State and local governments and other recipients of Federal financial assistance with substantial funds for projects and activities that produce significant employment and other economic opportunities;
(2) low- and very low-income persons, especially recipients of government assistance for housing, often have restricted access to employment and other economic opportunities;
(3) the employment and other economic opportunities generated by projects and activities that receive Federal housing and community development assistance offer an effective means of empowering low- and very low-income persons, particularly persons who are recipients of government assistance for housing; and
(4) prior Federal efforts to direct employment and other economic opportunities generated by Federal housing and community development programs to low- and very low-income persons have not been fully effective and should be intensified.
(b) Policy

It is the policy of the Congress and the purpose of this section to ensure that the employment and other economic opportunities generated by Federal financial assistance for housing and community development programs shall, to the greatest extent feasible, be directed toward low- and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing.

(c) Employment
(1) Public and Indian housing program
(A) In general

The Secretary shall require that public and Indian housing agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors, make their best efforts, consistent with existing Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, to give to low- and very low-income persons the training and employment opportunities generated by development assistance provided pursuant to section 1437c of title 42, operating assistance provided pursuant to section 1437g of title 42, and modernization grants provided pursuant to section 1437l of title 42.1

1 See References in Text note below.

(B) Priority
The efforts required under subparagraph (A) shall be directed in the following order of priority:
(i) To residents of the housing developments for which the assistance is expended.
(ii) To residents of other developments managed by the public or Indian housing agency that is expending the assistance.
(iii) To participants in YouthBuild programs receiving assistance under section 3226 of title 29.
(iv) To other low- and very low-income persons residing within the metropolitan area (or nonmetropolitan county) in which the assistance is expended.
(2) Other programs
(A) In general

In other programs that provide housing and community development assistance, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, opportunities for training and employment arising in connection with a housing rehabilitation (including reduction and abatement of lead-based paint hazards), housing construction, or other public construction project are given to low- and very low-income persons residing within the metropolitan area (or nonmetropolitan county) in which the project is located.

(B) Priority

Where feasible, priority should be given to low- and very low-income persons residing within the service area of the project or the neighborhood in which the project is located and to participants in YouthBuild programs receiving assistance under section 3226 of title 29.

(d) Contracting
(1) Public and Indian housing program
(A) In general

The Secretary shall require that public and Indian housing agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors, make their best efforts, consistent with existing Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, to award contracts for work to be performed in connection with development assistance provided pursuant to section 1437c of title 42, operating assistance provided pursuant to section 1437g of title 42, and modernization grants provided pursuant to section 1437l of title 42,1 to business concerns that provide economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons.

(B) Priority
The efforts required under subparagraph (A) shall be directed in the following order of priority:
(i) To business concerns that provide economic opportunities for residents of the housing development for which the assistance is provided.
(ii) To business concerns that provide economic opportunities for residents of other housing developments operated by the public and Indian housing agency that is providing the assistance.
(iii) To YouthBuild programs receiving assistance under section 3226 of title 29.
(iv) To business concerns that provide economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons residing within the metropolitan area (or nonmetropolitan county) in which the assistance is provided.
(2) Other programs
(A) In general

In providing housing and community development assistance pursuant to other programs, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, contracts awarded for work to be performed in connection with a housing rehabilitation (including reduction and abatement of lead-based paint hazards), housing construction, or other public construction project are given to business concerns that provide economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons residing within the metropolitan area (or nonmetropolitan county) in which the assistance is expended.

(B) Priority

Where feasible, priority should be given to business concerns which provide economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons residing within the service area of the project or the neighborhood in which the project is located and to YouthBuild programs receiving assistance under section 3226 of title 29.

(e) Definitions
For the purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Low- and very low-income persons

The terms “low-income persons” and “very low-income persons” have the same meanings given the terms “low-income families” and “very low-income families”, respectively, in section 1437a(b)(2) of title 42.

(2) Business concern that provides economic opportunities
The term “a business concern that provides economic opportunities” means a business concern that—
(A) provides economic opportunities for a class of persons that has a majority controlling interest in the business;
(B) employs a substantial number of such persons; or
(C) meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.
(f) Coordination with other Federal agencies

The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and such other Federal agencies as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out this section.

(g) Regulations

Not later than 180 days after October 28, 1992, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.

(Pub. L. 90–448, § 3, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 476; Pub. L. 91–152, title IV, § 404, Dec. 24, 1969, 83 Stat. 395; Pub. L. 93–383, title I, § 118, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 653; Pub. L. 96–399, title III, § 329, Oct. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1651; Pub. L. 102–550, title IX, § 915, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3878; Pub. L. 109–281, § 2(d)(1), Sept. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 1181; Pub. L. 113–128, title V, § 512(p), July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1711.)
§ 1701v. Congressional findings and declaration for improved architectural design in Government housing programs

The Congress finds that Federal aids to housing have not contributed fully to improvement in architectural standards. This objective has been contemplated in Federal housing legislation since the establishment of mortgage insurance through the Federal Housing Administration.

The Congress commends the Department of Housing and Urban Development for its recent efforts to improve architectural standards through competitive design awards and in other ways but at the same time recognizes that this important objective requires high priority if Federal aid is to make its full communitywide contribution toward improving our urban environment.

The Congress further finds that even within the necessary budget limitations on housing for low and moderate income families architectural design could be improved not only to make the housing more attractive, but to make it better suited to the needs of occupants.

The Congress declares that in the administration of housing programs which assist in the provision of housing for low and moderate income families, emphasis should be given to encouraging good design as an essential component of such housing and to developing housing which will be of such quality as to reflect its important relationship to the architectural standards of the neighborhood and community in which it is situated, consistent with prudent budgeting.

(Pub. L. 90–448, § 4, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 477.)
§ 1701w. Budget, debt management, and related counseling services for mortgagors; authorization of appropriations

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized to provide, or contract with public or private organizations to provide, such budget, debt management, and related counseling services to mortgagors whose mortgages are insured under section 1715z(i) or (j)(4) of this title as he determines to be necessary to assist such mortgagors in meeting the responsibilities of homeownership. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(Pub. L. 90–448, title I, § 101(e), Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 484.)
§ 1701x. Assistance with respect to housing for low- and moderate-income families
(a) Authorization to provide information, advice, and technical assistance; scope of assistance; authorization of appropriations
(1) The Secretary is authorized to provide, or contract with public or private organizations to provide, information, advice, and technical assistance, including but not limited to—
(i) the assembly, correlation, publication, and dissemination of information with respect to the construction, rehabilitation, and operation of low- and moderate-income housing;
(ii) the provision of advice and technical assistance to public bodies or to nonprofit or cooperative organizations with respect to the construction, rehabilitation, and operation of low- and moderate-income housing, including assistance with respect to self-help and mutual self-help programs;
(iii) counseling and advice to tenants and homeowners with respect to property maintenance, financial management, and such other matters as may be appropriate to assist them in improving their housing conditions and in meeting the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership; and
(iv) the provision of technical assistance to communities, particularly smaller communities, to assist such communities in planning, developing, and administering Community Development Programs pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 [42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.].
(2) The Secretary (A) shall provide the services described in clause (iii) of paragraph (1) for homeowners assisted under section 235 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715z]; (B) shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, provide such services for borrowers who are first-time homebuyers with guaranteed loans under section 502(h) of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1472(h)]; and (C) may provide such services for other owners of single family dwelling units insured under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.] or guaranteed or insured under chapter 37 of title 38. For purposes of this paragraph and clause (iii) of paragraph (1), the Secretary may provide the services described in such clause directly or may enter into contracts with, make grants to, and provide other types of assistance to private or public organizations with special competence and knowledge in counseling low- and moderate-income families to provide such services.
(3) There is authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this subsection, without fiscal year limitation, such sums as may be necessary; except that for such purposes there are authorized to be appropriated $6,025,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $6,278,050 for fiscal year 1994. Of the amounts appropriated for each of fiscal years 1993 and 1994, up to $500,000 shall be available for use for counseling and other activities in connection with the demonstration program under section 152 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. Any amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended.
(4)Homeownership and Rental Counseling Assistance.—
(A)In general.—The Secretary shall make financial assistance available under this paragraph to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and State housing finance agencies.
(B)Qualified entities.—The Secretary shall establish standards and guidelines for eligibility of organizations (including governmental and nonprofit organizations) to receive assistance under this paragraph, in accordance with subparagraph (D).
(C)Distribution.—Assistance made available under this paragraph shall be distributed in a manner that encourages efficient and successful counseling programs and that ensures adequate distribution of amounts for rural areas having traditionally low levels of access to such counseling services, including areas with insufficient access to the Internet. In distributing such assistance, the Secretary may give priority consideration to entities serving areas with the highest home foreclosure rates.
(D)Limitation on distribution of assistance.—
(i)In general.—None of the amounts made available under this paragraph shall be distributed to—(I) any organization which has been convicted for a violation under Federal law relating to an election for Federal office; or(II) any organization which employs applicable individuals.
(ii)Definition of applicable individuals.—In this subparagraph, the term “applicable individual” means an individual who—(I) is—(aa) employed by the organization in a permanent or temporary capacity;(bb) contracted or retained by the organization; or(cc) acting on behalf of, or with the express or apparent authority of, the organization; and(II) has been convicted for a violation under Federal law relating to an election for Federal office.
(E)Grantmaking process.—In making assistance available under this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider appropriate ways of streamlining and improving the processes for grant application, review, approval, and award.
(F)Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for—
(i) the operations of the Office of Housing Counseling of the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(ii) the responsibilities of the Director of Housing Counseling under paragraphs (2) through (5) of subsection (g); and
(iii) assistance pursuant to this paragraph for entities providing homeownership and rental counseling.
(b) Loans to nonprofit organizations or public housing agencies; purpose and terms; repayment; authorization of appropriations; deposit of appropriations in Low and Moderate Income Sponsor Fund
(1) The Secretary is authorized to make loans to nonprofit organizations or public housing agencies for the necessary expenses, prior to construction, in planning, and obtaining financing for, the rehabilitation or construction of housing for low or moderate income families under section 235 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715z] or any other federally assisted program. Such loans shall be made without interest and shall not exceed 80 per centum of the reasonable costs expected to be incurred in planning, and in obtaining financing for, such housing prior to the availability of financing, including, but not limited to, preliminary surveys and analyses of market needs, preliminary site engineering and architectural fees, site acquisition, application and mortgage commitment fees, and construction loan fees and discounts. The Secretary shall require repayment of loans made under this subsection, under such terms and conditions as he may require, upon completion of the project or sooner, and may cancel any part or all of a loan if he determines that it cannot be recovered from the proceeds of any permanent loan made to finance the rehabilitation or construction of the housing.
(2) The Secretary shall determine prior to the making of any loan that the nonprofit organization or public housing agency meets such requirements with respect to financial responsibility and stability as he may prescribe.
(3) There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this subsection not to exceed $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1969, and not to exceed $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970. Any amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended, and any amounts authorized for any fiscal year under this paragraph but not appropriated may be appropriated for any succeeding fiscal year.
(4) All funds appropriated for the purposes of this subsection shall be deposited in a fund which shall be known as the Low and Moderate Income Sponsor Fund, and which shall be available without fiscal year limitation and be administered by the Secretary as a revolving fund for carrying out the purposes of this subsection. Sums received in repayment of loans made under this subsection shall be deposited in such fund.
(c) Grants for homeownership counseling organizations
(1) In generalThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make grants—
(A) to nonprofit organizations experienced in the provision of homeownership counseling to enable the organizations to provide homeownership counseling to eligible homeowners; and
(B) to assist in the establishment of nonprofit homeownership counseling organizations.
(2) Program requirements
(A) Applications for grants under this subsection shall be submitted in the form, and in accordance with the procedures, that the Secretary requires.
(B) The homeownership counseling organizations receiving assistance under this subsection shall use the assistance only to provide homeownership counseling to eligible homeowners.
(C) The homeownership counseling provided by homeownership counseling organizations receiving assistance under this subsection shall include counseling with respect to—
(i) financial management;
(ii) available community resources, including public assistance programs, mortgage assistance programs, home repair assistance programs, utility assistance programs, food programs, and social services; and
(iii) employment training and placement.
(3) Availability of homeownership counselingThe Secretary shall take any action that is necessary—
(A) to ensure the availability throughout the United States of homeownership counseling from homeownership counseling organizations receiving assistance under this subsection, with priority to areas that—
(i) are experiencing high rates of home foreclosure and any other indicators of homeowner distress determined by the Secretary to be appropriate;
(ii) are not already adequately served by homeownership counseling organizations; and
(iii) have a high incidence of mortgages involving principal obligations (including such initial service charges, appraisal, inspection, and other fees as the Secretary shall approve) in excess of 97 percent of the appraised value of the properties that are insured pursuant to section 203 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1709]; and
(B) to inform the public of the availability of the homeownership counseling.
(4) Eligibility for counselingA homeowner shall be eligible for homeownership counseling under this subsection if—
(A) the home loan is secured by property that is the principal residence (as defined by the Secretary) of the homeowner;
(B) the home loan is not assisted under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.]; and
(C) the homeowner is, or is expected to be, unable to make payments, correct a home loan delinquency within a reasonable time, or resume full home loan payments due to a reduction in the income of the homeowner because of—
(i) an involuntary loss of, or reduction in, the employment of the homeowner, the self-employment of the homeowner, or income from the pursuit of the occupation of the homeowner;
(ii) any similar loss or reduction experienced by any person who contributes to the income of the homeowner;
(iii) a significant reduction in the income of the household due to divorce or death; or
(iv) a significant increase in basic expenses of the homeowner or an immediate family member of the homeowner (including the spouse, child, or parent for whom the homeowner provides substantial care or financial assistance) due to—(I) an unexpected or significant increase in medical expenses;(II) a divorce;(III) unexpected and significant damage to the property, the repair of which will not be covered by private or public insurance; or(IV) a large property-tax increase; or
(D) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines that the annual income of the homeowner is no greater than the annual income established by the Secretary as being of low- or moderate-income.
(5) Notification of availability of homeownership counseling
(A) Notification of availability of homeownership counseling
(i) Requirement

Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the creditor of a loan (or proposed creditor) shall provide notice under clause (ii) to (I) any eligible homeowner who fails to pay any amount by the date the amount is due under a home loan, and (II) any applicant for a mortgage described in paragraph (4).

(ii) ContentNotification under this subparagraph shall—(I) notify the homeowner or mortgage applicant of the availability of any homeownership counseling offered by the creditor (or proposed creditor);(II) if provided to an eligible mortgage applicant, state that completion of a counseling program is required for insurance pursuant to section 203 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1709];(III) notify the homeowner or mortgage applicant of the availability of homeownership counseling provided by nonprofit organizations approved by the Secretary and experienced in the provision of homeownership counseling, or provide the toll-free telephone number described in subparagraph (D)(i);(IV) notify the homeowner by a statement or notice, written in plain English by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Treasury, explaining the mortgage and foreclosure rights of servicemembers, and the dependents of such servicemembers, under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 501 et seq.) [now 50 U.S.C. 3901(V) notify the housing or mortgage applicant of the availability of mortgage software systems provided pursuant to subsection (g)(3).
(B) Deadline for notificationThe notification required in subparagraph (A) shall be made—
(i) in a manner approved by the Secretary; and
(ii) before the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the failure referred to in such subparagraph occurs.
(C) Notification

Notification under subparagraph (A) shall not be required with respect to any loan for which the eligible homeowner pays the amount overdue before the expiration of the 45-day period under subparagraph (B)(ii).

(D) Administration and complianceThe Secretary shall, to the extent of amounts approved in appropriation Acts, enter into an agreement with an appropriate private entity under which the entity will—
(i) operate a toll-free telephone number through which any eligible homeowner can obtain a list of nonprofit organizations, which shall be updated annually, that—(I) are approved by the Secretary and experienced in the provision of homeownership counseling; and(II) serve the area in which the residential property of the homeowner is located;
(ii) monitor the compliance of creditors with the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
(iii) report to the Secretary not less than annually regarding the extent of compliance of creditors with the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(E) Report

The Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress not less than annually regarding the extent of compliance of creditors with the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) and the effectiveness of the entity monitoring such compliance. The Secretary shall also include in the report any recommendations for legislative action to increase the authority of the Secretary to penalize creditors who do not comply with such requirements.

(6) DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection:
(A) The term “creditor” means a person or entity that is servicing a home loan on behalf of itself or another person or entity.
(B) The term “eligible homeowner” means a homeowner eligible for counseling under paragraph (4).
(C) The term “home loan” means a loan secured by a mortgage or lien on residential property.
(D) The term “homeowner” means a person who is obligated under a home loan.
(E) The term “residential property” means a 1-family residence, including a 1-family unit in a condominium project, a membership interest and occupancy agreement in a cooperative housing project, and a manufactured home and the lot on which the home is situated.
(7) Regulations

The Secretary shall issue any regulations that are necessary to carry out this subsection.

(8) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $7,294,000 for fiscal year 1994, of which amounts $1,000,000 shall be available in each such fiscal year to carry out paragraph (5)(D). Any amount appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

(d) Prepurchase and foreclosure-prevention counseling demonstration
(1) PurposesThe purpose of this subsection is—
(A) to reduce defaults and foreclosures on mortgage loans insured under the Federal Housing Administration single family mortgage insurance program;
(B) to encourage responsible and prudent use of such federally insured home mortgages;
(C) to assist homeowners with such federally insured mortgages to retain the homes they have purchased pursuant to such mortgages; and
(D) to encourage the availability and expansion of housing opportunities in connection with such federally insured home mortgages.
(2) Authority

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall carry out a program to demonstrate the effectiveness of providing coordinated prepurchase counseling and foreclosure-prevention counseling to first-time homebuyers and homeowners in avoiding defaults and foreclosures on mortgages insured under the Federal Housing Administration single family home mortgage insurance program.

(3) Grants

Under the demonstration program under this subsection, the Secretary shall make grants to qualified nonprofit organizations under paragraph (4) to enable the organizations to provide prepurchase counseling services to eligible homebuyers and foreclosure-prevention counseling services to eligible homeowners, in counseling target areas.

(4) Qualified nonprofit organizations

The Secretary shall select nonprofit organizations to receive assistance under the demonstration program under this subsection based on the experience and ability of the organizations in providing homeownership counseling and their ability to provide community-based prepurchase and foreclosure-prevention counseling under paragraphs (5) and (6) in a counseling target area. To be eligible for selection under this paragraph, a nonprofit organization shall submit an application containing a proposal for providing counseling services in the form and manner required by the Secretary.

(5) Prepurchase counseling
(A) Mandatory participationUnder the demonstration program, the Secretary shall require any eligible homebuyer who intends to purchase a home located in a counseling target area and who has applied for (as determined by the Secretary) a qualified mortgage (as such term is defined in paragraph (9)) on such home that involves a downpayment of less than 10 percent of the principal obligation of the mortgage, to receive counseling prior to signing of a contract to purchase the home. The counseling shall include counseling with respect to—
(i) financial management and the responsibilities involved in homeownership;
(ii) fair housing laws and requirements;
(iii) the maximum mortgage amount that the homebuyer can afford; and
(iv) options, programs, and actions available to the homebuyer in the event of actual or potential delinquency or default.
(B) Eligibility for counselingA homebuyer shall be eligible for prepurchase counseling under this paragraph if—
(i) the homebuyer has applied for a qualified mortgage;
(ii) the homebuyer is a first-time homebuyer; and
(iii) the home to be purchased under the qualified mortgage is located in a counseling target area.
(6) Foreclosure-prevention counseling
(A) Availability

Under the demonstration program, the Secretary shall make counseling available for eligible homeowners who are 60 or more days delinquent with respect to a payment under a qualified mortgage on a home located within a counseling target area. The counseling shall include counseling with respect to options, programs, and actions available to the homeowner for resolving the delinquency or default.

(B) Notification of delinquencyUnder the demonstration program, the Secretary shall require the creditor of any eligible homeowner who is delinquent (as described in subparagraph (A)) to send written notice by registered or certified mail within 5 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the occurrence of such delinquency—
(i) notifying the homeowner of the delinquency and the name, address, and phone number of the counseling organization for the counseling target area; and
(ii) notifying any counseling organization for the counseling target area of the delinquency and the name, address, and phone number of the delinquent homeowner.
(C) Coordination with emergency homeownership counseling program

The Secretary may coordinate the provision of assistance under subsection (c) with the demonstration program under this subsection.

(D) Eligibility for counselingA homeowner shall be eligible for foreclosure-prevention counseling under this paragraph if—
(i) the home owned by the homeowner is subject to a qualified mortgage; and
(ii) such home is located in a counseling target area.
(7) Scope of demonstration program
(A) Designation of counseling target areas

The Secretary shall designate 3 counseling target areas (as provided in subparagraph (B)), which shall be located in not less than 2 separate metropolitan areas. The Secretary shall provide for counseling under the demonstration program under this subsection with respect to only such counseling target areas.

(B) Counseling target areasEach counseling target area shall consist of a group of contiguous census tracts—
(i) the population of which is greater than 50,000;
(ii) which together constitute an identifiable neighborhood, area, borough, district, or region within a metropolitan area (except that this clause may not be construed to exclude a group of census tracts containing areas not wholly contained within a single town, city, or other political subdivision of a State);
(iii) in which the average age of existing housing is greater than 20 years; and
(iv) for which (I) the percentage of qualified mortgages on homes within the area that are foreclosed exceeds 5 percent for the calendar year preceding the year in which the area is selected as a counseling target area, or (II) the number of qualified mortgages originated on homes in such area in the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the area is selected as a counseling target area exceeds 20 percent of the total number of mortgages originated on residences in the area during such year.
(C) Mortgage characteristics

In designating counseling target areas under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall designate at least 1 such area that meets the requirements of subparagraph (B)(iv)(I) and at least 1 such area that meets the requirements of subparagraph (B)(iv)(II).

(D) Expansion of target areas

The Secretary may expand any counseling target area during the term of the demonstration program, if the Secretary determines that counseling can be adequately provided within such expanded area and the purposes of this subsection will be furthered by such expansion. Any such expansion shall include only groups of census tracts that are contiguous to the counseling target area expanded and such census tract groups shall not be subject to the provisions of subparagraph (B).

(E) Designation of control areas

For purposes of determining the effectiveness of counseling under the demonstration program, the Secretary shall designate 3 control areas, each of which shall correspond to 1 of the counseling target areas designated under subparagraph (A). Each control area shall be located in the metropolitan area in which the corresponding counseling target area is located, shall meet the requirements of subparagraph (B), and shall be similar to such area with respect to size, age of housing stock, median income, and racial makeup of the population. Each control area shall also comply with the requirements of subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (B)(iv), according to the subclause with which the corresponding counseling target area complies.

(8) Evaluation

Each organization providing counseling under the demonstration program under this subsection shall maintain records with respect to each eligible homebuyer and eligible homeowner counseled and shall provide information with respect to such counseling as the Secretary or the Comptroller General may require.

(9) DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection:
(A) The term “control area” means an area designated by the Secretary under paragraph (7)(E).
(B) The term “counseling target area” means an area designated by the Secretary under paragraph (7)(A).
(C) The term “creditor” means a person or entity that is servicing a loan secured by a qualified mortgage on behalf of itself or another person or entity.
(D) The term “displaced homemaker” means an individual who—
(i) is an adult;
(ii) has not worked full-time, full-year in the labor force for a number of years, but has during such years, worked primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family; and
(iii) is unemployed or underemployed and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading employment.
(E) The term “downpayment” means the amount of purchase price of home required to be paid at or before the time of purchase.
(F) The term “eligible homebuyer” means a homebuyer that meets the requirements under paragraph (5)(B).
(G) The term “eligible homeowner” means a homeowner that meets the requirements under paragraph (6)(D).
(H) The term “first-time homebuyer” means an individual who—
(i) (and whose spouse) has had no ownership in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase of the home pursuant to which counseling is provided under this subsection;
(ii) is a displaced homemaker who, except for owning a residence with his or her spouse or residing in a residence owned by the spouse, meets the requirements of clause (i); or
(iii) is a single parent who, except for owning a residence with his or her spouse or residing in a residence owned by the spouse while married, meets the requirements of clause (i).
(I) The term “home” includes any dwelling or dwelling unit eligible for a qualified mortgage, and includes a unit in a condominium project, a membership interest and occupancy agreement in a cooperative housing project, and a manufactured home and the lot on which the home is situated.
(J) The term “metropolitan area” means a standard metropolitan statistical area as designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(K) The term “qualified mortgage” means a mortgage on a 1- to 4-family home that is insured under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.].
(L) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(M) The term “single parent” means an individual who—
(i) is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse; and
(ii)(I) has 1 or more minor children for whom the individual has custody or joint custody; or(II) is pregnant.
(10) Regulations

The Secretary may issue any regulations necessary to carry out this subsection.

(11) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $365,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $380,330 for fiscal year 1994.

(12) Termination

The demonstration program under this subsection shall terminate at the end of fiscal year 1994.

(e) Certification
(1) Requirement for assistance

An organization may not receive assistance for counseling activities under subsection (a)(1)(iii), (a)(2), (a)(4), (c), or (d) of this section, or under section 1701w of this title, unless the organization, or the individuals through which the organization provides such counseling, has been certified by the Secretary under this subsection as competent to provide such counseling.

(2) Standards and examinationThe Secretary shall, by regulation, establish standards and procedures for testing and certifying counselors and for certifying organizations. Such standards and procedures shall require, for certification of an organization, that each individual through which the organization provides counseling shall demonstrate, and, for certification of an individual, that the individual shall demonstrate, by written examination (as provided under subsection (f)(4)), competence to provide counseling in each of the following areas:
(A) Financial management.
(B) Property maintenance.
(C) Responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy.
(D) Fair housing laws and requirements.
(E) Housing affordability.
(F) Avoidance of, and responses to, rental and mortgage delinquency and avoidance of eviction and mortgage default.
(3) Requirement under HUD programs

Any homeownership counseling or rental housing counseling (as such terms are defined in subsection (g)(1)) required under, or provided in connection with, any program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall be provided only by organizations or counselors certified by the Secretary under this subsection as competent to provide such counseling.

(4) Outreach

The Secretary shall take such actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to ensure that individuals and organizations providing homeownership or rental housing counseling are aware of the certification requirements and standards of this subsection and of the training and certification programs under subsection (f).

(5) Encouragement

The Secretary shall encourage organizations engaged in providing homeownership and rental counseling that do not receive assistance under this section to employ organizations and individuals to provide such counseling who are certified under this subsection or meet the certification standards established under this subsection.

(f) Homeownership and rental counselor training and certification programs
(1) Establishment

To the extent amounts are provided in appropriations Acts under paragraph (7), the Secretary shall contract with an appropriate entity (which may be a nonprofit organization) to carry out a program under this subsection to train individuals to provide homeownership and rental counseling and to administer the examination under subsection (e)(2) and certify individuals under such subsection.

(2) Eligibility and selection
(A) Eligibility

To be eligible to provide the training and certification program under this subsection, an entity shall have demonstrated experience in training homeownership and rental counselors.

(B) SelectionThe Secretary shall provide for entities meeting the requirements of subparagraph (A) to submit applications to provide the training and certification program under this subsection. The Secretary shall select an application based on the ability of the entity to—
(i) establish the program as soon as possible on a national basis, but not later than the date under paragraph (6);
(ii) minimize the costs involved in establishing the program; and
(iii) effectively and efficiently carry out the program.
(3) Training

The Secretary shall require that training of counselors under the program under this subsection be designed and coordinated to prepare individuals for successful completion of the examination for certification under subsection (e)(2). The Secretary, in consultation with the entity selected under paragraph (2)(B), shall establish the curriculum and standards for training counselors under the program.

(4) Certification

The entity selected under paragraph (2)(B) shall administer the examination under subsection (e)(2) and, on behalf of the Secretary, certify individuals successfully completing the examination. The Secretary, in consultation with such entity, shall establish the span and format of the examination.

(5) Fees

Subject to the approval of the Secretary, the entity selected under paragraph (2)(B) may establish and impose reasonable fees for participation in the training provided under the program and for examination and certification under subsection (e)(2), in an amount sufficient to cover any costs of such activities not covered with amounts provided under paragraph (7).

(6) Timing

The entity selected under paragraph (2)(B) to carry out the training and certification program shall establish the program as soon as possible after such selection, and shall make training and certification available under the program on a national basis not later than the expiration of the 1-year period beginning upon such selection.

(7) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $2,084,000 for 1994.

(g) Procedures and activities
(1) Counseling procedures
(A) In general

The Secretary shall establish, coordinate, and monitor the administration by the Department of Housing and Urban Development of the counseling procedures for homeownership counseling and rental housing counseling provided in connection with any program of the Department, including all requirements, standards, and performance measures that relate to homeownership and rental housing counseling.

(B) Homeownership counselingFor purposes of this subsection and as used in the provisions referred to in this subparagraph, the term “homeownership counseling” means counseling related to homeownership and residential mortgage loans. Such term includes counseling related to homeownership and residential mortgage loans that is provided pursuant to—
(i) section 105(a)(20) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(20));
(ii) in the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.]—(I) section 9(e) (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e));(II) section 8(y)(1)(D) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(y)(1)(D));(III) section 18(a)(4)(D) (42 U.S.C. 1437p(a)(4)(D));(IV) section 23(c)(4) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
(42 U.S.C. 1437u(c)(4));
(V) section 32(e)(4) (42 U.S.C. 1437z–4(e)(4));(VI) section 33(d)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1437z–5(d)(2)(B));(VII) sections 302(b)(6) and 303(b)(7) (42 U.S.C. 1437aaa–1(b)(6), 1437aaa–2(b)(7)); and(VIII) section 304(c)(4) (42 U.S.C. 1437aaa–3(c)(4));
(iii) section 302(a)(4) of the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note);
(iv) sections 12773(b)(2) and 12808(b) of title 42;
(v) this section and section 1701w of this title;
(vi)section 4110(d)(2)(G) of this title;
(vii) sections 12872(b)(6), 12873(b)(7), 12874(c)(4), 12892(b)(6), and 12893(b)(6) of title 42;
(viii) section 11408(b)(1)(F)(iii) 1 of title 42;
(ix) sections 202(3) 1 and 810(b)(2)(A) 1 of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4132(3), 4229(b)(2)(A));
(x) in the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.]—(I) in section 203 (12 U.S.C. 1709), the penultimate undesignated paragraph of paragraph (2) of subsection (b), subsection (c)(2)(A), and subsection (r)(4);(II) subsections (a) and (c)(3) of section 237; 1 and(III) subsections (d)(2)(B) and (m)(1) of section 255 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–20);
(xi) section 502(h)(4)(B) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(h)(4)(B));
(xii)section 1701z–7 of this title; and
(xiii)section 1701z–16 of this title.
(C) Rental housing counselingFor purposes of this subsection, the term “rental housing counseling” means counseling related to rental of residential property, which may include counseling regarding future homeownership opportunities and providing referrals for renters and prospective renters to entities providing counseling and shall include counseling related to such topics that is provided pursuant to—
(i) section 105(a)(20) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(20));
(ii) in the United States Housing Act of 1937—(I) section 9(e) (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e));(II) section 18(a)(4)(D) (42 U.S.C. 1437p(a)(4)(D));(III) section 23(c)(4) 1 (42 U.S.C. 1437u(c)(4));(IV) section 32(e)(4) (42 U.S.C. 1437z–4(e)(4));(V) section 33(d)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1437z–5(d)(2)(B)); and(VI) section 302(b)(6) (42 U.S.C. 1437aaa–1(b)(6));
(iii)section 12773(b)(2) of title 42;
(iv) this section;
(v)section 12872(b)(6) of title 42;
(vi) section 11408(b)(1)(F)(iii) 1 of title 42;
(vii) sections 202(3) 1 and 810(b)(2)(A) 1 of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4132(3), 4229(b)(2)(A)); and
(viii) the rental assistance program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).
(2) Standards for materials

The Secretary, in consultation with the advisory committee established under subsection (g)(4) 1 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act, shall establish standards for materials and forms to be used, as appropriate, by organizations providing homeownership counseling services, including any recipients of assistance pursuant to subsection (a)(4).

(3) Mortgage software systems
(A) CertificationThe Secretary shall provide for the certification of various computer software programs for consumers to use in evaluating different residential mortgage loan proposals. The Secretary shall require, for such certification, that the mortgage software systems take into account—
(i) the consumer’s financial situation and the cost of maintaining a home, including insurance, taxes, and utilities;
(ii) the amount of time the consumer expects to remain in the home or expected time to maturity of the loan; and
(iii) such other factors as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the consumer in evaluating whether to pay points, to lock in an interest rate, to select an adjustable or fixed rate loan, to select a conventional or government-insured or guaranteed loan and to make other choices during the loan application process.
If the Secretary determines that available existing software is inadequate to assist consumers during the residential mortgage loan application process, the Secretary shall arrange for the development by private sector software companies of new mortgage software systems that meet the Secretary’s specifications.
(B) Use and initial availability

Such certified computer software programs shall be used to supplement, not replace, housing counseling. The Secretary shall provide that such programs are initially used only in connection with the assistance of housing counselors certified pursuant to subsection (e).

(C) Availability

After a period of initial availability under subparagraph (B) as the Secretary considers appropriate, the Secretary shall take reasonable steps to make mortgage software systems certified pursuant to this paragraph widely available through the Internet and at public locations, including public libraries, senior-citizen centers, public housing sites, offices of public housing agencies that administer rental housing assistance vouchers, and housing counseling centers.

(D) Budget compliance

This paragraph shall be effective only to the extent that amounts to carry out this paragraph are made available in advance in appropriations Acts.

(4) National public service multimedia campaigns to promote housing counseling
(A) In general

The Director of Housing Counseling shall develop, implement, and conduct national public service multimedia campaigns designed to make persons facing mortgage foreclosure, persons considering a subprime mortgage loan to purchase a home, elderly persons, persons who face language barriers, low-income persons, minorities, and other potentially vulnerable consumers aware that it is advisable, before seeking or maintaining a residential mortgage loan, to obtain homeownership counseling from an unbiased and reliable sources 2

2 So in original.
and that such homeownership counseling is available, including through programs sponsored by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(B) Contact information

Each segment of the multimedia campaign under subparagraph (A) shall publicize the toll-free telephone number and website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development through which persons seeking housing counseling can locate a housing counseling agency in their State that is certified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages.

(C) Authorization of appropriations

(D) Foreclosure rescue education programs
(i) In generalTen percent of any funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization under subparagraph (C) shall be used by the Director of Housing Counseling to conduct an education program in areas that have a high density of foreclosure. Such program shall involve direct mailings to persons living in such areas describing—(I) tips on avoiding foreclosure rescue scams;(II) tips on avoiding predatory lending mortgage agreements;(III) tips on avoiding for-profit foreclosure counseling services; and(IV) local counseling resources that are approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(ii) Program emphasis

In conducting the education program described under clause (i), the Director of Housing Counseling shall also place an emphasis on serving communities that have a high percentage of retirement communities or a high percentage of low-income minority communities.

(iii) Terms definedFor purposes of this subparagraph:(I) High density of foreclosures

An area has a “high density of foreclosures” if such area is one of the metropolitan statistical areas (as that term is defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) with the highest home foreclosure rates.

(II) High percentage of retirement communities

An area has a “high percentage of retirement communities” if such area is one of the metropolitan statistical areas (as that term is defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) with the highest percentage of residents aged 65 or older.

(III) High percentage of low-income minority communities

An area has a “high percentage of low-income minority communities” if such area contains a higher-than-normal percentage of residents who are both minorities and low-income, as defined by the Director of Housing Counseling.

(5) Education programs

The Secretary shall provide advice and technical assistance to States, units of general local government, and nonprofit organizations regarding the establishment and operation of, including assistance with the development of span and materials for, educational programs to inform and educate consumers, particularly those most vulnerable with respect to residential mortgage loans (such as elderly persons, persons facing language barriers, low-income persons, minorities, and other potentially vulnerable consumers), regarding home mortgages, mortgage refinancing, home equity loans, home repair loans, and where appropriate by region, any requirements and costs associated with obtaining flood or other disaster-specific insurance coverage.

(h) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:
(1) Nonprofit organization

The term “nonprofit organization” has the meaning given such term in section 12704(5) of title 42, except that subparagraph (D) of such section shall not apply for purposes of this section.

(2) State

The term “State” means each of the several States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Trust Territories of the Pacific, or any other possession of the United States.

(3) Unit of general local government

The term “unit of general local government” means any city, county, parish, town, township, borough, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State.

(4) HUD-approved counseling agencyThe term “HUD-approved counseling agency” means a private or public nonprofit organization that is—
(A) exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of title 26; and
(B) certified by the Secretary to provide housing counseling services.
(5) State housing finance agency

The term “State housing finance agency” means any public body, agency, or instrumentality specifically created under State statute that is authorised to finance activities designed to provide housing and related facilities throughout an entire State through land acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation.

(i) Accountability for recipients of covered assistance
(1) Tracking of fundsThe Secretary shall—
(A) develop and maintain a system to ensure that any organization or entity that receives any covered assistance uses all amounts of covered assistance in accordance with this section, the regulations issued under this section, and any requirements or conditions under which such amounts were provided; and
(B) require any organization or entity, as a condition of receipt of any covered assistance, to agree to comply with such requirements regarding covered assistance as the Secretary shall establish, which shall include—
(i) appropriate periodic financial and grant activity reporting, record retention, and audit requirements for the duration of the covered assistance to the organization or entity to ensure compliance with the limitations and requirements of this section, the regulations under this section, and any requirements or conditions under which such amounts were provided; and
(ii) any other requirements that the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure appropriate administration and compliance.
(2) Misuse of fundsIf any organization or entity that receives any covered assistance is determined by the Secretary to have used any covered assistance in a manner that is materially in violation of this section, the regulations issued under this section, or any requirements or conditions under which such assistance was provided—
(A) the Secretary shall require that, within 12 months after the determination of such misuse, the organization or entity shall reimburse the Secretary for such misused amounts and return to the Secretary any such amounts that remain unused or uncommitted for use; and
(B) such organization or entity shall be ineligible, at any time after such determination, to apply for or receive any further covered assistance.
The remedies under this paragraph are in addition to any other remedies that may be available under law.
(3) Covered assistance

For purposes of this subsection, the term “covered assistance” means any grant or other financial assistance provided under this section.

(Pub. L. 90–448, title I, § 106, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 490; Pub. L. 91–609, title IX, § 903(a), (b), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1808; Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 811, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 735; Pub. L. 95–128, title IX, § 903, Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1149; Pub. L. 97–35, title III, § 339A, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 417; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 465], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1236; Pub. L. 98–479, title II, § 204(f), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2233; Pub. L. 100–242, title I, § 169, Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1865; Pub. L. 100–628, title X, § 1009, Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3266; Pub. L. 101–137, § 8, Nov. 3, 1989, 103 Stat. 826; Pub. L. 101–625, title V, § 577, title VII, § 706(c), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4238, 4286; Pub. L. 102–550, title I, § 162(a)–(d), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3719–3721; Pub. L. 104–316, title I, § 106(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3830; Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 594(a), (b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2655; Pub. L. 107–73, title II, § 205, Nov. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 674; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 688(a), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3336; Pub. L. 110–289, div. B, title I, § 2127, July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2841; Pub. L. 111–203, title XIV, §§ 1443–1445, 1448, 1449, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2165–2171, 2173, 2174.)
§ 1701x–1. Home inspection counseling
(a) Public outreach
(1) In general
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall take such actions as may be necessary to inform potential homebuyers of the availability and importance of obtaining an independent home inspection. Such actions shall include—
(A) publication of the HUD/FHA form HUD 92564–CN entitled “For Your Protection: Get a Home Inspection”, in both English and Spanish languages;
(B) publication of the HUD/FHA booklet entitled “For Your Protection: Get a Home Inspection”, in both English and Spanish languages;
(C) development and publication of a HUD booklet entitled “For Your Protection—Get a Home Inspection” that does not reference FHA-insured homes, in both English and Spanish languages; and
(D) publication of the HUD document entitled “Ten Important Questions To Ask Your Home Inspector”, in both English and Spanish languages.
(2) Availability

The Secretary shall make the materials specified in paragraph (1) available for electronic access and, where appropriate, inform potential homebuyers of such availability through home purchase counseling public service announcements and toll-free telephone hotlines of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Secretary shall give special emphasis to reaching first-time and low-income homebuyers with these materials and efforts.

(3) Updating

The Secretary may periodically update and revise such materials, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(b) Requirement for FHA-approved lenders

Each mortgagee approved for participation in the mortgage insurance programs under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.] shall provide prospective homebuyers, at first contact, whether upon pre-qualification, pre-approval, or initial application, the materials specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) of subsection (a)(1).

(c) Requirements for HUD-approved counseling agencies

Each counseling agency certified pursuant by 1

1 So in original.
the Secretary to provide housing counseling services shall provide each of their clients, as part of the home purchase counseling process, the materials specified in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subsection (a)(1).

(d) Training
Training provided the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing counseling agencies, whether such training is provided directly by the Department or otherwise, shall include—
(1) providing information on counseling potential homebuyers of the availability and importance of getting an independent home inspection;
(2) providing information about the home inspection process, including the reasons for specific inspections such as radon and lead-based paint testing;
(3) providing information about advising potential homebuyers on how to locate and select a qualified home inspector; and
(4) review of home inspection public outreach materials of the Department.
(Pub. L. 111–203, title XIV, § 1451, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2176.)
§ 1701x–2. Legal assistance for foreclosure-related issues
(a) Establishment

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall establish a program for making grants for providing a full range of foreclosure legal assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners and tenants related to home ownership preservation, home foreclosure prevention, and tenancy associated with home foreclosure.

(b) Competitive allocation

The Secretary shall allocate amounts made available for grants under this section to State and local legal organizations on the basis of a competitive process. For purposes of this subsection “State and local legal organizations” are those State and local organizations whose primary business or mission is to provide legal assistance.

(c) Priority to certain areas

In allocating amounts in accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority consideration to State and local legal organizations that are operating in the 125 metropolitan statistical areas (as that term is defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) with the highest home foreclosure rates.

(d) Legal assistance
(1) In generalAny State or local legal organization that receives financial assistance pursuant to this section may use such amounts only to assist—
(A) homeowners of owner-occupied homes with mortgages in default, in danger of default, or subject to or at risk of foreclosure; and
(B) tenants at risk of or subject to eviction as a result of foreclosure of the property in which such tenant resides.
(2) Commence use within 90 days

Any State or local legal organization that receives financial assistance pursuant to this section shall begin using any financial assistance received under this section within 90 days after receipt of the assistance.

(3) Prohibition on class actions

No funds provided to a State or local legal organization under this section may be used to support any class action litigation.

(4) Limitation on legal assistance

Legal assistance funded with amounts provided under this section shall be limited to mortgage-related default, eviction, or foreclosure proceedings, without regard to whether such foreclosure is judicial or nonjudicial.

(5) Effective date

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, this subsection shall take effect on July 21, 2010.

(e) Limitation on distribution of assistance
(1) In generalNone of the amounts made available under this section shall be distributed to—
(A) any organization which has been convicted for a violation under Federal law relating to an election for Federal office; or
(B) any organization which employs applicable individuals.
(2) Definition of applicable individualsIn this subsection, the term “applicable individual” means an individual who—
(A) is—
(i) employed by the organization in a permanent or temporary capacity;
(ii) contracted or retained by the organization; or
(iii) acting on behalf of, or with the express or apparent authority of, the organization; and
(B) has been convicted for a violation under Federal law relating to an election for Federal office.
(f) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2012 for grants under this section.

(Pub. L. 111–203, title XIV, § 1498, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2211.)
§ 1701y. National Homeownership Foundation
(a) Creation; purpose; articles of incorporation and charter; reservation of right to alter or amend charter; term; principal office; administration as charitable and educational foundation; compensation of officers and employees; contract authority; donations and grants; payment of principal and interest on borrowings
(1) There is hereby created a body corporate to be known as the “National Homeownership Foundation” (hereinafter referred to as the “Foundation”) to carry out a continuing program of encouraging private and public organizations at the national, community, and neighborhood levels to provide increased homeownership and housing opportunities in urban and rural areas for lower income families through such means as—
(A) encouraging the investment in, and sponsoring of, housing for lower income families;
(B) encouraging the establishment of programs of assistance and counseling to lower income families to enable them better to achieve and afford adequate housing;
(C) providing a broad range of technical assistance through publications and advisory services to public and private organizations which are carrying out, or are desirous of carrying out, programs to expand homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families; and
(D) providing grants and loans to public and private organizations carrying out homeownership and housing opportunity programs for lower income families to help cover some of the expenses of such programs.
(2) The Foundation shall be deemed to be a corporation without members organized and established under the provisions of the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act, with all the rights, powers, and responsibilities thereof except as limited by this section and any amendments thereto. This section shall constitute the articles of incorporation and charter of the Foundation, which shall not be an agency or instrumentality of the United States Government. The Congress expressly reserves the exclusive right to alter or amend this charter. The Foundation shall have succession until dissolved by Act of Congress. The Foundation shall maintain its principal office in the District of Columbia.
(3) No part of the net earnings of the Foundation shall inure to the benefit of any private person, and no substantial part of its activities shall be devoted to attempting to influence legislation. The Foundation shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. The Foundation shall be operated and administered at all times as a charitable and educational foundation.
(4) No employee or officer of the Foundation shall receive compensation in excess of that received by or hereafter prescribed by law for heads of executive departments.
(5) The Foundation shall make maximum use of existing public and private agencies and programs, and in carrying out its functions the Foundation is authorized to contract with individuals, private corporations, organizations, and associations, and with agencies of the Federal, State, and local governments.
(6) The Foundation is authorized to receive donations and grants from individuals and from public and private organizations, foundations, and agencies.
(7) The Foundation may use only donated funds, or funds derived from payment of interest on loans made by it, for the principal and interest payments on any borrowings.
(b) Board of Directors; appointment of members; Chairman; terms of office; reappointment; compensation and travel expenses; Executive Director and other officers; vacancies; by-laws
(1) The Foundation shall have a Board of Directors consisting of eighteen members, fifteen of whom shall be appointed by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The other three members shall be, ex officio, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. The President shall appoint one of the fifteen appointed members to serve as Chairman of the Board during his term of office as a member.
(2) Within thirty days after August 1, 1968, the President shall appoint the fifteen appointed members of the Board. Not more than five of such members shall, at the time of their appointment, be serving full time as officers or employees of the Federal Government, or as officers or employees of any State or local government. Each appointed member of the Board shall hold office for a term of three years, except that (A) any member appointed to fill a vacancy prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term, and (B) the terms of the members first taking office shall expire, as designated by the President at the time of appointment, five at the end of the first year, five at the end of the second year, and five at the end of the third year after the date of appointment. Members of the Board, however appointed, shall be eligible for reappointment, but at no time shall there be more than five members of the Board who at the time of their appointment or reappointment were full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government or of any State or local government.
(3) Appointed members of the Board who are not employees of the Federal Government, while attending meetings or conferences of the Board or otherwise serving on business of the Board, shall be entitled to receive compensation at rates fixed by the President, but not exceeding $100 per day, including travel time, and while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 for persons in the Government service employed intermittently.
(4) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director of the Foundation. The Executive Director shall be the chief executive officer of the Foundation and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, and all other executive officers and employees of the Board shall be responsible to him. The Board shall also cause to be appointed a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as may be necessary to conduct properly the business of the Foundation, and shall provide for filling vacancies in such offices.
(5) The Board shall adopt bylaws for the Foundation which shall be made available for public inspection upon request.
(c) Functions; programs to expand homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families; fees for assistance or services
(1) The Foundation shall assist public and private organizations, at their request, in initiating, developing, and conducting programs to expand homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families. To provide such assistance and to carry out the purposes of this section, the Foundation is authorized to—
(A) carry out a continuing program of encouraging private and public organizations at the national, community, and neighborhood levels in the establishment of such programs;
(B) assist in the formation of organizations the purpose of which is the development and carrying out of such programs, including the establishment of local development funds for financing housing for lower income families through the pooling of moneys from private sources;
(C) identify and arrange for the technical and managerial assistance and personnel needed for the successful operation of such programs by public and private organizations;
(D) assist public and private organizations in obtaining the mortgage financing, insurance, and other requirements or aids necessary for conducting programs of housing construction, rehabilitation, or improvement for lower income families;
(E) arrange for, or provide on a limited basis, training for persons in the skills needed in administering programs of homeownership and housing opportunity for lower income families;
(F) encourage research and innovation, and collect and make available such information as may be desirable to further the purposes of this section, including but not limited to such activities as the sponsoring of seminars, conferences, and meetings and the establishment of a continuing information program to acquaint lower income families with the means they can use to improve the quality of their housing and the homeownership and housing opportunities available to them;
(G) assist private and public organizations in establishing, in connection with their homeownership and housing opportunity programs for lower income families, counseling and similar activities designed to advise lower income families of the means available to better themselves economically through job training and manpower development programs; and
(H) perform other similar services in order to further the purposes of this section.
(2) The Foundation may, if it deems it appropriate, charge a reasonable fee for any assistance or service provided under this subsection.
(d) Grants and loans to public or private organizations; eligibility; encouragement of cooperation between organizations and neighborhoods and communities
(1) In order to assist public and private organizations which are carrying out homeownership and housing opportunity programs for lower income families to fill unmet needs, initiate exceptional programs, and experiment with new approaches and programs, the Foundation is authorized, subject to such terms and conditions as it may prescribe, to make grants and loans to such organizations to help defray the following expenses:
(A) organizational and administrative expenses incurred in commencing the operation of a program, or in expanding an existing program, to the extent that the activities are related to providing homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families;
(B) necessary preconstruction costs incurred for architectural assistance, land options, application fees, and similar items; and
(C)
(2) In order to be eligible for a grant or loan under this subsection, the organization seeking such assistance shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Foundation that the funds requested are not otherwise available from Federal sources: Provided, That a grant or loan under this subsection may be provided to help cover that portion of the cost of an eligible activity not covered by Federal funds.
(3) The Foundation shall encourage cooperation between public and private organizations carrying out programs of homeownership and housing opportunity for lower income families and the neighborhoods and communities affected by such programs. To help assure such cooperation and in order to coordinate, to the maximum extent feasible, any construction or rehabilitation activities with the development goals of the neighborhood or community affected, no application for a loan or grant under this subsection shall be considered unless such application has been submitted to the governing body of the community affected, or to such other entity of local government as may be designated by the governing body, for such recommendations as the local governing body or its designee may desire to make. Any recommendations so made shall be given careful consideration by the Foundation before taking final action on any such application. If, upon the expiration of thirty days after any such application has been submitted to such governing body or its designee, such body or designee fails to provide such recommendations, the application may be considered without the benefit of such recommendations.
(e) Coordination of activities and consultation with Department of Housing and Urban Development and other Federal departments and agencies

The Foundation shall coordinate its activities and consult with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other Federal departments and agencies engaged in providing homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families.

(f) Annual report to the President and the Congress; contents
(1) Not later than one hundred and twenty days after the close of each fiscal year, the Foundation shall prepare and submit to the President and to the Congress a full report of its activities during such year. Such report shall include an account of the Foundation’s experiences with the efforts of private and public organizations to expand homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families, together with such recommendations as it deems appropriate.
(2) Whenever in its judgement the general unavailability of mortgage funds is sufficiently serious to deter the Foundation from carrying out its objective of expanding homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families, the Foundation shall, in its annual report or in a separate report to the President and the Congress, state its findings and make such recommendations for alternate means of financing housing for such families as it deems appropriate.
(g) Audit of financial transaction; access to records; report of audit; contents of report
(1) The financial transactions of the Foundation shall be audited by the Government Accountability Office in accordance with the principles and procedures applicable to commercial corporate transactions and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States. The representatives of the Government Accountability Office shall have access to all books, accounts, financial rec­ords, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the Foundation and necessary to facilitate the audit, and they shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. The audit shall cover the fiscal year corresponding to that of the United States Government.
(2) A report of each such audit shall be made by the Comptroller General to the Congress not later than six and one-half months following the close of the last year covered by such audit. The report shall set forth the scope of the audit and shall include a statement of assets and liabilities, capital, and surplus or deficit; a statement of sources and application of funds; and such comments and information as may be deemed necessary to keep the Congress informed of the operations and financial condition of the Foundation, together with such recommendations with respect thereto as the Comptroller General may deem advisable. The report shall also show specifically any program, expenditure, or other financial transaction or undertaking, observed in the course of the audit, which, in the opinion of the Comptroller General, has been carried on or made without authority of law. A copy of each report shall be furnished to the President and to the Foundation at the time submitted to the Congress.
(h) Deposit of funds of Foundation

Funds of the Foundation shall be deposited, to the extent practicable, in accounts with financial institutions which are actively engaged in making loans or are otherwise carrying on activities in furtherance of homeownership and housing opportunities for lower income families.

(i) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Foundation not to exceed $10,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this section. Appropriations made hereunder shall remain available until expended.

(Pub. L. 90–448, title I, § 107, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 491; Pub. L. 93–604, title VI, § 604, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1963; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1072(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 721; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
§ 1701z. New technologies in the development of housing for lower income families
(a) Institution of program; assistance to mobile home buyers

In order to encourage the use of new housing technologies in providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing for lower income families; to encourage large-scale experimentation in the use of such technologies; to provide a basis for comparison of such technologies with existing housing technologies in providing such housing; and to evaluate the effect of local housing codes and zoning regulations on the large-scale use of new housing technologies in the provision of such housing, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) shall institute a program under which qualified organizations, public and private, will submit plans for the development of housing for lower income families, using new and advanced technologies, on Federal land which has been made available by the Secretary for the purposes of this section, or on other land where (1) local building regulations permit the construction of experimental housing, or (2) State or local law permits variances from building regulations in the construction of experimental housing for the purpose of testing and developing new building technologies.

(b) Approval of plans utilizing new housing technologies; considerations
The Secretary shall approve not more than five plans utilizing new housing technologies which are submitted to him pursuant to the program referred to in subsection (a) and which he determines are most promising in furtherance of the purposes of this section. In making such determination the Secretary shall consider—
(1) the potential of the technology employed for producing housing for lower income families on a large scale at a moderate cost;
(2) the extent to which the plan envisages environmental quality;
(3) the possibility of mass production of the technology; and
(4) the financial soundness of the organization submitting the plan, and the ability of such organization, alone or in combination with other organizations, to produce at least one thousand dwelling units a year utilizing the technology proposed.
(c) Number of dwelling units to be constructed for each type of technology; evaluation of projects

In approving projects for mortgage insurance under section 1715x(a)(2) of this title, the Secretary shall seek to achieve the construction of at least one thousand dwelling units a year over a five-year period for each of the various types of technologies proposed in approved plans under subsection (b). The Secretary shall evaluate each project with respect to which assistance is extended pursuant to this section with a view to determining (1) the detailed cost breakdown per dwelling unit, (2) the environmental quality achieved in each unit, and (3) the effect which local housing codes and zoning regulations have, or would have if applicable, on the cost per dwelling unit.

(d) Transfer of surplus property

Notwithstanding the provisions of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41, any land which is excess property within the meaning of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 and which is determined by the Secretary to be suitable in furtherance of the purposes of this section may be transferred to the Secretary upon his request.

(e) Report of findings; legislative recommendations

The Secretary shall, at the earliest practicable date, report his findings with respect to projects assisted pursuant to this section (including evaluations of each such project in accordance with subsection (c)), together with such recommendations for additional legislation as he determines to be necessary or desirable to expand the available supply of decent, safe, and sanitary housing for lower income families through the use of technologies the efficacy of which has been demonstrated under this section.

(Pub. L. 90–448, title I, § 108(a)–(e), Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 495, 496.)
§ 1701z–1. Research and demonstrations; authorization of appropriations; continuing availability of funds

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized and directed to undertake such programs of research, studies, testing, and demonstration relating to the mission and programs of the Department as he determines to be necessary and appropriate. There is 1

1 So in original. Probably should be “are”.
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title [12 U.S.C. 1701z–1 et seq.] $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $36,470,000 for fiscal year 1994.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 501, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1784; Pub. L. 94–375, § 23(a), Aug. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 95–128, title II, § 204, Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1129; Pub. L. 95–557, title III, § 305(a), Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2097; Pub. L. 96–153, title III, § 304, Dec. 21, 1979, 93 Stat. 1112; Pub. L. 96–399, title III, § 303, Oct. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1639; Pub. L. 97–35, title III, § 337, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 414; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 466(a)], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1236; Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 564, Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1945; Pub. L. 101–625, title IX, § 951(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4417; Pub. L. 102–550, title IX, § 901, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3866.)
§ 1701z–2. Advanced technologies, methods, and materials for housing construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance
(a) General acceptance; costs, reduction; health and safety restrictions on expanded housing production

The Secretary shall require, to the greatest extent feasible, the employment of new and improved technologies, methods, and materials in housing construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance under programs administered by him with a view to reducing costs, and shall encourage and promote the acceptance and application of such advanced technology, methods, and materials by all segments of the housing industry, communities, industries engaged in urban development activities, and the general public. To the extent feasible, in connection with the construction, major rehabilitation, or maintenance of any housing assisted under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary shall assure that there is no restraint by contract, building code, zoning ordinance, or practice against the employment of new or improved technologies, techniques, materials, and methods or of preassembled products which may reduce the cost or improve the quality of such construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance, and therefore stimulate expanded production of housing, except where such restraint is necessary to insure safe and healthful working and living conditions.

(b) Experimental construction under approved housing plans on Federal or other lands with view toward ultimate mass housing production; use of section 1701z–1 funds and authority

To encourage large-scale experimentation in the use of new technologies, methods, and materials, with a view toward the ultimate mass production of housing and related facilities, the Secretary shall wherever feasible conduct programs under section 1701z–1 of this title in which qualified organizations, public and private, will submit plans for development and production of housing and related facilities using such new advances on Federal land which has been made available or acquired by the Secretary for the purpose of this subsection or on other land where (1) local building regulations permit such experimental construction, or (2) necessary variances from building regulations can be granted. The Secretary may utilize the funds and authority available to him under the provisions of section 1701z–1 of this title to assist in the implementation of plans which he approves.

(c) Acquisition, use, and disposal of property; transfer of excess property

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is authorized, in connection with projects under this title [12 U.S.C. 1701z–1 et seq.], to acquire, use and dispose of any land and other property required for the project as he deems necessary. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41, any land which is excess property within the meaning of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 and which is determined by the Secretary to be suitable in furtherance of the purposes of subsection (b) may be transferred to the Secretary upon his request.

(d) Technical assistance; reports; general dissemination and form of reports, data, and information

In order to effectively carry out his activities under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to provide such advice and technical assistance as may be required and to pay for the cost of writing and publishing reports on activities and undertakings financed under section 1701z–1 of this title, as well as reports on similar activities and undertakings, not so financed, which are of significant value in furthering the purposes of that section. He may disseminate (without regard to the provisions of section 3204 of title 39 or section 4154 of such title with respect to any period before the effective date of such section 3204 as provided in section 15(a) of the Postal Reorganization Act) any reports, data, or information acquired or held under this title [12 U.S.C. 1701z–1 et seq.], including related data and information otherwise available to the Secretary through the operation of the programs and activities of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in such form as he determines to be most useful to departments, establishments, and agencies of Federal, State, and local governments, to industry, and to the general public.

(e) Contracts or grants; authority; advance and progress payments; work limitation

The Secretary is authorized to carry out the functions authorized in section 1701z–1 of this title either directly or, without regard to section 6101 of title 41, by contract or by grant. Advance and progress payments may be made under such contracts or grants without regard to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31 and such contracts or grants may be made for work to continue for not more than four years from the date thereof.

(f) Utilization of facilities of other agencies; working agreements, cooperative agreements, contract authority, receipt of funds, and exercise of section 1701c(c) powers

In carrying out activities under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary shall utilize to the fullest extent feasible the available facilities of other Federal departments and agencies, and shall consult with, and make recommendations to, such departments and agencies. The Secretary may enter into working agreements with such departments and agencies and contract or make grants on their behalf or have such departments and agencies contract or make grants on his behalf and such departments and agencies are hereby authorized to execute such contracts and grants. The Secretary is authorized to make or accept reimbursement for the cost of such activities. The Secretary is further authorized to undertake activities under this title [12 U.S.C. 1701z–1 et seq.] under cooperative agreements with industry and labor, agencies of State or local governments, educational institutions, and other organizations. He may enter into contracts with and receive funds from such agencies, institutions, and organizations, and may exercise any of the other powers vested in him by section 1701c(c) of this title.

(g) Information and data; restriction on use or identification

The Secretary is authorized to request and receive such information or data as he deems appropriate from private individuals and organizations, and from public agencies. Any such information or data shall be used only for the purposes for which it is supplied, and no publication shall be made by the Secretary whereby the information or data furnished by any particular person or establishment can be identified, except with the consent of such person or establishment.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 502, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1784; Pub. L. 94–375, § 23(c), Aug. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 98–479, title II, § 203(k), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2231.)
§ 1701z–3. Experimental housing allowance payment program
(a) Purpose of payments

The Secretary is authorized to undertake on an experimental basis programs to demonstrate the feasibility of providing housing allowance payments to assist families in meeting rental or homeownership expenses.

(b) Termination date of payments; termination date for contracts; contracts for performance of administrative functions
(1) No housing allowance payments shall be made after July 1, 1985. After January 1, 1975, the Secretary shall not enter into contracts under the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.] to carry out the purposes of this section. The Secretary may contract with public or private agencies for the performance of administrative functions in connection with the programs authorized by this section.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, extend the annual contributions contracts for the experimental housing allowance supply program through September 30, 1989, on the same terms and conditions as the original contracts, for the sole purpose of providing assistance for homeowners participating in such program on June 1, 1983. In extending such contracts, the Secretary may, to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, use authority available under section 5(c) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437c(c)].
(c) Report to Congress

The Secretary shall report to the Congress on his findings pursuant to this section not later than eighteen months after August 22, 1974.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 504, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1786; Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 804, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 725; Pub. L. 94–375, § 23(b), Aug. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 98–35, § 6(a), May 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 198.)
§ 1701z–4. Abandoned properties demonstration proj­ect
(a) Grants for arrest of incipient abandonment and revitalization of blighted areas

In carrying out activities under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary may undertake programs to demonstrate the most feasible means of providing assistance to localities in which a substantial number of structures are abandoned or are threatened with abandonment for the purpose of arresting the process of housing abandonment in its incipiency or in restoring viability to blighted areas in which abandonment is pervasive. For this purpose, the Secretary is authorized to make grants, subject to the limitations of this section, to assist local public bodies in planning and implementing demonstration projects for prompt and effective action in alleviating and preventing such abandonment in designated demonstration areas.

(b) Preferred projects; scope of projects

In administering this section, the Secretary shall give preference to those demonstration projects which in his judgment can reasonably be expected to arrest the process of abandonment in the demonstration area within a period of two years and which provide for innovative approaches to combating the problem of housing abandonment. Such projects may include, but shall not be limited to (1) acquisition by negotiated purchase, lease, receivership, tax lien proceedings, or other means authorized by law and satisfactory to the Secretary, of real property within the demonstration area or areas which is abandoned, deteriorated, or in violation of applicable code standards; (2) the repair of streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, publicly owned utilities, public buildings to meet needs consistent with the revitalization and continued use of the area; (3) the demolition of structures determined to be structurally unsound or unfit for human habitation or which contribute adversely to the physical or social environment of the locality involved; (4) the establishment of recreational or community facilities including public playgrounds; (5) the improvement of garbage

(c) Purchase or lease of project real estate at fair market value for new or rehabilitated housing use; conditions

Subject to such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, real property held as part of a project assisted under this section may be made available to (1) a limited dividend corporation, nonprofit corporation, or association, cooperative or public body or agency, or other approved purchaser or lessee, or (2) a purchaser who would be eligible for a mortgage insured under section 1715l(d)(3) or (d)(4), section 1715l(h)(1), section 1715z(i) or (j)(1), or section 1715z–1 of this title, for purchase or lease at fair market value for use by such purchaser or lessee, as, or in the provision of, new or rehabilitated housing for occupancy by families or individuals of low or moderate income.

(d) Amount of grants; authorization of appropriations; continuing availability of funds; locality limitation

Grants under this section shall be in amounts which do not exceed 90 per centum of the net project cost as determined by the Secretary. There are authorized to be appropriated for demonstration grants under this section not to exceed $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971. Any amounts appropriated shall remain available until expended and any amount authorized but not appropriated may be appropriated for any succeeding fiscal year commencing prior to July 1, 1972. Not more than one-third of the aggregate amount of grants made in any fiscal year under this section shall be made with respect to projects undertaken by one locality.

(e) Projects as part of urban renewal projects for purpose of application of urban renewal provisions

The provisions of sections 1456, 1465, and 1466 1

1 See References in Text note below.
of title 42, and section 1452b 1 of title 42, may apply to projects assisted under this Act as if such projects were being carried out in urban renewal areas as part of urban renewal projects within the meaning of section 1460 1 of title 42.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 505, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1787; Pub. L. 99–386, title I, § 105(a), Aug. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 822.)
§ 1701z–5. Demonstrations of heating or cooling residential housing utilizing solar energy
(a) Consultation by Secretary with National Science Foundation; scope of demonstrations; powers of Secretary
In carrying out activities under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary may, after consultation with the National Science Foundation, undertake demonstrations to determine the economic and technical feasibility of utilizing solar energy for heating or cooling residential housing (including demonstrations of new housing design or structure involving the use of solar energy). Demonstrations carried out under this section should involve both single family and multifamily housing located in areas having distinguishable climatic characteristics in urban as well as rural environments. To carry out the purpose of this section the Secretary is authorized—
(1) to enter into contracts with, to make grants to, and to provide other types of assistance to individuals and entities with special competence and knowledge to contribute to the planning, design, development, and operation of such housing;
(2) to utilize the contract, loan, or mortgage insurance authority of any federally assisted housing program in the actual planning, development, and occupancy of such housing; and
(3) to set aside any development, construction, design, or occupancy requirements for the purpose of any demonstration under this section if he determines that such requirements inhibit such demonstration.
(b) Evaluation by Secretary

The Secretary shall include in any demonstration under this section an evaluation of the demonstration to cover the full experience involved in all stages of the demonstration.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 506, as added Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 814, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 738; amended Pub. L. 99–386, title I, § 105(b), Aug. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 822.)
§ 1701z–6. Special housing need research and demonstration authority
(a) Special demonstrations of housing design, structure, facilities, and amenities to meet needs of elderly, handicapped, etc.; contracts, grants, and assistance by Secretary

In carrying out activities under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary may undertake special demonstrations to determine the housing design, the housing structure, and the housing-related facilities, and amenities most effective or appropriate to meet the needs of groups with special housing needs including the elderly, the handicapped, the displaced, single individuals, broken families, and large households. For this purpose, the Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts with, to make grants to, and to provide other types of assistance to individuals and entities with special competence and knowledge to contribute to the planning, development, design, and management of such housing.

(b) Areas of preferential attention

In carrying out his functions under this section, the Secretary shall give preferential attention to demonstrations which in his judgment involve areas of housing user needs most neglected in past and current research and demonstration efforts.

(c) Utilization of contract and loan authority of federally assisted housing programs; setting aside of development, etc., requirements during testing

The Secretary is authorized to undertake demonstrations involving the actual planning, development, and occupancy of housing utilizing the contract and loan authority of any federally assisted housing program. He is also authorized to set aside any development, construction, design, and occupancy requirements, for the purposes of these demonstrations, if in his judgment they inhibit the testing of housing designed to meet the special housing needs.

(d) Evaluation of demonstration

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall include, as part of any demonstration, an evaluation of the demonstration to cover the full experience involved in planning, development, and occupancy.

(e) Limitation on amounts available for research

In addition to any other contract or loan authority which the Secretary may utilize under subsection (c), not more than $10,000,000 from amounts approved in appropriation Acts shall be available for research under this section.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 507, as added Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 815, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 738.)
§ 1701z–7. Studies to determine extent of need for counseling to mortgagors; report to Congress
(a) In carrying out activities under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary is directed to undertake programs of studies and demonstrations within at least three standard metropolitan statistical areas to determine the extent of need for and cost effectiveness of providing pre-purchase, default and delinquency counseling and related services to owners and purchasers of single-family dwellings insured or to be insured under the unsubsidized mortgage insurance programs of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.].
(b) Within one year from August 3, 1976, the Secretary shall submit an interim report to the Congress with respect to the progress made under such studies and demonstrations, including an estimate as to the date when a final report on the results of such demonstrations will be made available to the Congress.
(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 508, as added Pub. L. 94–375, § 26, Aug. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1078.)
§ 1701z–8. Energy conservation and renewable-resource demonstration
(a) National demonstration program; purpose

The Secretary shall undertake a national demonstration program designed to test the feasibility and effectiveness of various forms of financial assistance for encouraging the installation or implementation of approved energy conservation measures and approved renewable-resource energy measures in existing dwelling units. The Secretary shall carry out such demonstration program with a view toward recommending a national program or programs designed to reduce significantly the consumption of energy in existing dwelling units.

(b) Financial assistance to owners and tenants of dwelling units; authorization of Secretary

The Secretary is authorized to make financial assistance available pursuant to this section in the form of grants, low-interest-rate loans, interest subsidies, loan guarantees, and such other forms of assistance as the Secretary deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. Assistance may be made available to both owners of dwelling units and tenants occupying such units.

(c) Duties of SecretaryIn carrying out the demonstration program required by this section, the Secretary shall—
(1) provide assistance in a wide variety of geographic areas to reflect differences in climate, types of dwelling units, and income levels of recipients in order to provide a national profile for use in designing a program which is to be operational and effective nationwide;
(2) evaluate the appropriateness of various financial incentives for different income levels of owners and occupants of existing dwelling units;
(3) take into account and evaluate any other financial assistance which may be available for the installation or implementation of energy conservation and renewable-resource energy measures;
(4) make use of such State and local instrumentalities or other public or private entities as may be appropriate in carrying out the purposes of this section in coordination with the provisions of part C of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.];
(5) consider, with respect to various forms of assistance and procedures for their application, (A) the extent to which energy conservation measures and renewable-resource energy measures are encouraged which would otherwise not have been undertaken, (B) the minimum amount of Federal subsidy necessary to achieve the objectives of a national program, (C) the costs of administering the assistance, (D) the extent to which the assistance may be encumbered by delays, redtape, and uncertainty as to its availability with respect to any particular applicant, (E) the factors which may prevent the assistance from being available in certain areas or for certain classes of persons, and (F) the extent to which fraudulent practices can be prevented; and
(6) consult with the Administrator, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the heads of such other Federal agencies as may be appropriate.
(d) Limitations on grants; modification and exceptions to limitation; eligibility
(1) The amount of any grant made pursuant to this section shall not exceed the lesser of—
(A) with respect to an approved energy conservation measure, (i) $400, or (ii) 20 per centum of the cost of installing or otherwise implementing such measure; and
(B) with respect to an approved renewable-resource energy measure, (i) $2,000, or (ii) 25 per centum of the cost of installing or otherwise implementing such measure.
The Secretary may, by rule, increase such percentages and amounts in the case of an applicant whose annual gross family income for the preceding taxable year is less than the median family income for the housing market area in which the dwelling unit which is to be modified by such measure is located, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary may also modify the limitations specified in this paragraph if necessary in order to achieve the purposes of this section.
(2) No person shall be eligible for both financial assistance under this section and a credit against income tax for the same energy conservation measure or renewable-resource energy measure.
(e) Conditions upon availability of financial assistance

The Secretary may condition the availability of financial assistance with respect to the installation and implementation of any renewable-resource energy measure on such measure’s meeting performance standards for reliability and efficiency and such certification procedures as the Secretary may, in consultation with the Administrator, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and other appropriate Federal agencies, prescribe for the purpose of protecting consumers.

(f) Implementation of program

In carrying out the demonstration program required by this section, the Secretary is authorized to delegate responsibilities to, or to contract with, other Federal agencies or with such State or local instrumentalities or other public or private bodies as the Secretary may deem desirable. Such demonstration program shall be coordinated, to the extent practicable, with the State energy conservation plans as described in, and implemented pursuant to, part C of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.].

(g) Interim and final reports on program progress, findings, and legislative recommendations; criteria for evaluation of projects

The Secretary shall submit an interim report to the Congress not later than 6 months after August 14, 1976, (and every 6 months thereafter until the final report is made under this subsection) indicating the progress made in carrying out the demonstration program required by this section and shall submit a final report to the Congress, containing findings and legislative recommendations, not later than 2 years after August 14, 1976. As part of each report made under this subsection, the Secretary shall include an evaluation, based on the criteria described in subsection (h), of each demonstration project conducted under this section.

(h) Report on evaluation criteria to be used and results sought prior to funding of projects

Prior to undertaking any demonstration proj­ect under this section, the Secretary shall specify and report to the Congress the criteria by which the Secretary will evaluate the effectiveness of the project and the results to be sought.

(i) DefinitionsAs used in this section:
(1) The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration; except that after such Administration ceases to exist, such term means any officer of the United States designated by the President for purposes of this section.
(2) The term “approved”, with respect to an energy conservation measure or a renewable-resource energy measure, means any such measure which is included on a list of such measures which is published by the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration pursuant to section 365(e)(1) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6325(e)(1)]. The Administrator may, by rule, require that an energy audit be conducted as a condition of obtaining assistance under this section for a renewable-resource energy measure.
(3) The terms “energy audit”, “energy conservation measure”, and “renewable-resource energy measure” have the meanings given the terms in section 361(c) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6321(c)].
(j) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated, for purposes of this section, not to exceed $200,000,000. Any amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 509, as added Pub. L. 94–385, title IV, § 441, Aug. 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 1162; amended Pub. L. 95–91, title VII, § 709(d), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 608; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title I, § 40108(c)(1), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 944.)
§ 1701z–9. Expansion of home ownership opportunities in urban areas

In carrying out activities under section 1701z–1 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to conduct demonstrations to determine the feasibility of expanding homeownership opportunities in urban areas and encouraging the creation and maintenance of decent, safe, and sanitary housing in such areas by utilizing techniques including, but not limited to, the conversion of multifamily housing properties to condominium or cooperative ownership by individuals and families.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 510, as added Pub. L. 95–557, title III, § 305(b), Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2097.)
§ 1701z–10. Model rehabilitation guidelines in inspection and approval of rehabilitated properties; report to Congress
(a)
(1) The Secretary shall develop model rehabilitation guidelines for the voluntary adoption by States and communities to be used in conjunction with existing building codes by State and local officials in the inspection and approval of rehabilitated properties.
(2) Such guidelines shall be developed in consultation with the National Institute of Building Sciences, appropriate national organizations of agencies and officials of State and local governments, representatives of the building industry, and consumer groups, and other interested parties.
(3) The Secretary shall publish such guidelines for public comment not later than one year after October 31, 1978, and promulgate them no later than eighteen months after such date.
(4) The Secretary may furnish technical assistance to State and local governments to facilitate the use and implementation of such guidelines.
(b) The Secretary shall report to Congress not later than thirty-six months after October 31, 1978, regarding (1) actions taken by State and local governments to adopt guidelines or their equivalents, and (2) recommendations for further action.
(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 511, as added Pub. L. 95–557, title IX, § 903, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2125.)
§ 1701z–10a. Biennial survey of economic and housing market conditions

The Secretary shall, not less than biennially, survey national, regional, and local economic and housing market conditions in a manner that provides data comparable to the data collected in such survey conducted in 1981.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 512, as added Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 466(b)], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1236.)
§ 1701z–11. Management and disposition of multifamily housing projects
(a) GoalsThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall manage or dispose of multifamily housing projects that are owned by the Secretary or that are subject to a mortgage held by the Secretary in a manner that—
(1) is consistent with the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.] and this section;
(2) will protect the financial interests of the Federal Government; and
(3) will, in the least costly fashion among reasonable available alternatives, address the goals of—
(A) preserving certain housing so that it can remain available to and affordable by low-income persons;
(B) preserving and revitalizing residential neighborhoods;
(C) maintaining existing housing stock in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition;
(D) minimizing the involuntary displacement of tenants;
(E) maintaining housing for the purpose of providing rental housing, cooperative housing, and homeownership opportunities for low-income persons;
(F) minimizing the need to demolish multifamily housing projects;
(G) supporting fair housing strategies; and
(H) disposing of such projects in a manner consistent with local housing market conditions.
In determining the manner in which a project is to be managed or disposed of, the Secretary may balance competing goals relating to individual projects in a manner that will further the purposes of this section.
(b) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:
(1) Multifamily housing project

The term “multifamily housing project” means any multifamily rental housing project which is, or prior to acquisition by the Secretary was, assisted or insured under the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], or was subject to a loan under section 1701q of this title.

(2) Subsidized projectThe term “subsidized project” means a multifamily housing project that, immediately prior to the assignment of the mortgage on such project to, or the acquisition of such mortgage by, the Secretary, was receiving any of the following types of assistance:
(A) Below market interest rate mortgage insurance under the proviso of section 221(d)(5) of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(5)].
(B) Interest reduction payments made in connection with mortgages insured under section 236 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715z–1].
(C) Direct loans made under section 1701q of this title.
(D) Assistance in the form of—
(i) rent supplement payments under section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 [12 U.S.C. 1701s],
(ii) additional assistance payments under section 236(f)(2) of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715z–1(f)(2)],
(iii) housing assistance payments made under section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1421b] (as in effect before January 1, 1975), or
(iv) housing assistance payments made under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] (excluding payments made for tenant-based assistance under section 8),
if (except for purposes of section 183(c) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987) such assistance payments are made to more than 50 percent of the units in the project.
(3) Formerly subsidized project

The term “formerly subsidized project” means a multifamily housing project owned by the Secretary that was a subsidized project immediately prior to its acquisition by the Secretary.

(4) Unsubsidized project

The term “unsubsidized project” means a multifamily housing project owned by the Secretary that is not a subsidized project or a formerly subsidized project.

(5) AffordableA unit shall be considered affordable if—
(A) for units occupied—
(i) by very low-income families, the rent does not exceed 30 percent of 50 percent of the area median income, as determined by the Secretary, with adjustments for smaller and larger families; and
(ii) by low-income families other than very low-income families, the rent does not exceed 30 percent of 80 percent of the area median income, as determined by the Secretary, with adjustments for smaller and larger families; or
(B) the unit, or the family residing in the unit, is receiving assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f].
(6) Low-income families and very low-income families

The terms “low-income families” and “very low-income families” shall have the meanings given the terms in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)].

(7) Preexisting tenant

The term “preexisting tenant” means, with respect to a multifamily housing project acquired pursuant to this section by a purchaser other than the Secretary at foreclosure or after sale by the Secretary, a family that resides in a unit in the project immediately before the acquisition of the project by the purchaser.

(8) Market area

The term “market area” means a market area determined by the Secretary.

(9) Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(c) Disposition of property
(1) Disposition to purchasersIn carrying out this section, the Secretary may dispose of a multifamily housing project owned by the Secretary on a negotiated, competitive bid, or other basis, on such terms as the Secretary deems appropriate considering the low-income character of the project and consistent with the goals in subsection (a), only to a purchaser determined by the Secretary to be capable of—
(A) satisfying the conditions of the disposition plan developed under paragraph (2) for the project;
(B) implementing a sound financial and physical management program that is designed to enable the project to meet anticipated operating and repair expenses to ensure that the project will remain in decent, safe, and sanitary condition and in compliance with any standards under applicable State or local laws, rules, ordinances, or regulations relating to the physical condition of the housing and any such standards established by the Secretary;
(C) responding to the needs of the tenants and working cooperatively with tenant organizations;
(D) providing adequate organizational, staff, and financial resources to the project; and
(E) meeting such other requirements as the Secretary may determine.
(2) Disposition plan
(A) In general

Prior to the sale of a multifamily housing project that is owned by the Secretary, the Secretary shall develop an initial disposition plan for the project that specifies the minimum terms and conditions of the Secretary for disposition of the project, the initial sales price that is acceptable to the Secretary, and the assistance that the Secretary plans to make available to a prospective purchaser in accordance with this section.

(B) Market-wide plans

In developing the initial disposition plan under this subsection for a multifamily housing project located in a market area in which at least 1 other multifamily housing project owned by the Secretary is located, the Secretary may coordinate the disposition of all such multifamily housing projects located within the same market area to the extent and in such manner as the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out the goals under subsection (a).

(C) Sales price

The initial sales price shall be reasonably related to the intended use of the project after sale, any rehabilitation requirements for the project, the rents for units in the project that can be supported by the market, the amount of rental assistance available for the project under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f], the occupancy profile of the project (including family size and income levels for tenant families), and any other factors that the Secretary considers appropriate.

(D) Community and tenant inputIn carrying out this section, the Secretary shall develop procedures—
(i) to obtain appropriate and timely input into disposition plans from officials of the unit of general local government affected, the community in which the project is situated, and the tenants of the project; and
(ii) to facilitate, where feasible and appropriate, the sale of multifamily housing projects to existing tenant organizations with demonstrated capacity, to public or nonprofit entities that represent or are affiliated with existing tenant organizations, or to other public or nonprofit entities.
(E) Technical assistance

To carry out the procedures developed under subparagraph (D), the Secretary may provide technical assistance, directly or indirectly, and may use amounts available for technical assistance under the Emergency Low Income Housing Preservation Act of 1987, subtitle C of the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990 [12 U.S.C. 4141 et seq.], subtitle B of title IV of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act [42 U.S.C. 12871 et seq.], or this section, for the provision of technical assistance under this paragraph. Recipients of technical assistance funding under the provisions referred to in this subparagraph shall be permitted to provide technical assistance to the extent of such funding under any of such provisions or under this subparagraph, notwithstanding the source of the funding.

(3) Foreclosure saleIn carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—
(A) prior to foreclosing on any mortgage held by the Secretary on any multifamily housing project, notify both the unit of general local government in which the property is located and the tenants of the property of the proposed foreclosure sale; and
(B) dispose of a multifamily housing project through a foreclosure sale only to a purchaser that the Secretary determines is capable of implementing a sound financial and physical management program that is designed to enable the project to meet anticipated operating and repair expenses to ensure that the project will remain in decent, safe, and sanitary condition and in compliance with any standards under applicable State or local laws, rules, ordinances, or regulations relating to the physical condition of the housing and any such standards established by the Secretary.
(d) Management and maintenance of properties
(1) Contracting for management servicesIn carrying out this section, the Secretary may—
(A) contract for management services for a multifamily housing project that is owned by the Secretary (or for which the Secretary is mortgagee in possession) with for-profit and nonprofit entities and public agencies (including public housing authorities) on a negotiated, competitive bid, or other basis at a price determined by the Secretary to be reasonable, with a manager the Secretary has determined is capable of—
(i) implementing a sound financial and physical management program that is designed to enable the project to meet anticipated operating and maintenance expenses to ensure that the project will remain in decent, safe, and sanitary condition and in compliance with any standards under applicable State or local laws, rules, ordinances, or regulations relating to the physical condition of the project and any such standards established by the Secretary;
(ii) responding to the needs of the tenants and working cooperatively with tenant organizations;
(iii) providing adequate organizational, staff, and financial resources to the project; and
(iv) meeting such other requirements as the Secretary may determine; and
(B) require the owner of a multifamily housing project that is subject to a mortgage held by the Secretary to contract for management services for the project in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Maintenance of projects owned by SecretaryIn the case of multifamily housing projects that are owned by the Secretary (or for which the Secretary is mortgagee in possession), the Secretary shall—
(A) to the greatest extent possible, maintain all such occupied projects in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition and in compliance with any standards under applicable State or local laws, rules, ordinances, or regulations relating to the physical condition of the housing and any such standards established by the Secretary;
(B) to the greatest extent possible, maintain full occupancy in all such projects; and
(C) maintain all such projects for purposes of providing rental or cooperative housing.
(3) Projects subject to a mortgage held by Secretary

In the case of any multifamily housing project that is subject to a mortgage held by the Secretary, the Secretary shall require the owner of the project to carry out the requirements of paragraph (2).

(e) Required assistanceIn disposing of multifamily housing property under this section, consistent with the goal of subsection (a)(3)(A), the Secretary shall take, separately or in combination with other actions under this subsection or subsection (f), one or more of the following actions:
(1) Contract with owner for project-based assistanceIn the case of multifamily housing projects that are acquired by a purchaser other than the Secretary at foreclosure or after sale by the Secretary, the Secretary may enter into contracts under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] (to the extent budget authority is available) with owners of the projects, subject to the following requirements:
(A) Subsidized or formerly subsidized projects receiving mortgage-related assistanceIn the case of a subsidized or formerly subsidized project referred to in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(2)—
(i) the contract shall be sufficient to assist at least all units covered by an assistance contract under any of the authorities referred to in subsection (b)(2)(D) before acquisition or foreclosure, unless the Secretary acts pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (C);
(ii) the contract shall provide that, when a vacancy occurs in any unit in the project requiring project-based rental assistance pursuant to this subparagraph that is occupied by a family who is not eligible for assistance under such section 8 [42 U.S.C. 1437f], the owner shall lease the available unit to a family eligible for assistance under such section 8; and
(iii) the Secretary shall take actions to ensure that any unit in any such project that does not otherwise receive project-based assistance under this subparagraph remains available and affordable for the remaining useful life of the project, as defined by the Secretary; to carry out this clause, the Secretary may require purchasers to establish use or rent restrictions maintaining the affordability of such units.
(B) Subsidized or formerly subsidized projects receiving rental assistanceIn the case of a subsidized or formerly subsidized project referred to in subsection (b)(2)(D) that is not subject to subparagraph (A)—
(i) the contract shall be sufficient to assist at least all units in the project that are covered, or were covered immediately before foreclosure on or acquisition of the project by the Secretary, by an assistance contract under any of the provisions referred to in such subsection, unless the Secretary acts pursuant to provisions of subparagraph (C); and
(ii) the contract shall provide that, when a vacancy occurs in any unit in the project requiring project-based rental assistance pursuant to this subparagraph that is occupied by a family who is not eligible for assistance under such section 8 [42 U.S.C. 1437f], the owner shall lease the available unit to a family eligible for assistance under such section 8.
(C) Exceptions
(i) AuthorityIn lieu of providing project-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] in accordance with subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(i) for a project, the Secretary may, for certain units in unsubsidized projects located within the same market area as the project otherwise required to be assisted with such project-based assistance—(I) require use and rent restrictions providing that such units shall be available to and affordable by very low-income families for the remaining useful life of the project (as defined by the Secretary), or(II) provide project-based assistance under section 8 for such units to be occupied by only very low-income persons,
 but only if the requirements under clause (ii) are met.
(ii) RequirementsThe requirements under this clause are that—(I) upon the disposition of the project otherwise required to be assisted with project-based assistance under subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(i), the Secretary shall make available tenant-based assistance under section 8 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] to low-income families residing in units otherwise required to be assisted with such project-based assistance; and(II) the number of units subject to use restrictions or provided assistance under clause (i) shall be at least equivalent to the number of units otherwise required to be assisted with project-based assistance under section 8 in accordance with subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(i).
(D) Unsubsidized projectsNotwithstanding actions taken pursuant to subparagraph (C), in the case of unsubsidized projects, the contract shall be sufficient to provide—
(i) project-based rental assistance for all units that are covered, or were covered immediately before foreclosure or acquisition, by an assistance contract under—(I) the new construction and substantial rehabilitation program under section 8(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f(b)(2)] (as in effect before October 1, 1983);(II) the property disposition program under section 8(b) of such Act;(III) the project-based certificate program under section 8 of such Act;(IV) the moderate rehabilitation program under section 8(e)(2) of such Act;(V) section 23 of such Act [42 U.S.C. 1421b] (as in effect before January 1, 1975);(VI) the rent supplement program under section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 [12 U.S.C. 1701s]; or(VII) section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, following conversion from assistance under section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965; and
(ii) tenant-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 for families that are preexisting tenants of the project in units that, immediately before foreclosure or acquisition of the project by the Secretary, were covered by an assistance contract under the loan management set-aside program under section 8(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
(2) Annual contribution contracts for tenant-based assistanceIn the case of multifamily housing projects that are acquired by a purchaser other than the Secretary at foreclosure or after sale by the Secretary, the Secretary may enter into annual contribution contracts with public housing agencies to provide tenant-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] on behalf of all low-income families who are otherwise eligible for assistance in accordance with subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of paragraph (1) on the date that the project is acquired by the purchaser, subject to the following requirements:
(A) Requirement of sufficient affordable housing in area

The Secretary may not take action under this paragraph unless the Secretary determines that there is available in the area an adequate supply of habitable, affordable housing for very low-income families and other low-income families using tenant-based assistance.

(B) Limitation for subsidized and formerly subsidized projects

The Secretary may not take actions under this paragraph in connection with units in subsidized or formerly subsidized projects for more than 10 percent of the aggregate number of units in such projects disposed of by the Secretary in any fiscal year.

(3) Other assistance
(A) In generalIn accordance with the authority provided under the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], the Secretary may provide other assistance pursuant to subsection (f) to the owners of multifamily housing projects that are acquired by a purchaser other than the Secretary at foreclosure, or after sale by the Secretary, on terms that ensure that—
(i) at least the units in the project otherwise required to receive project-based assistance pursuant to subparagraphs (A), (B), or (D) of paragraph (1) are available to and affordable by low-income persons; and
(ii) for the remaining useful life of the project, as defined by the Secretary, there shall be in force such use or rent restrictions as the Secretary may prescribe.
(B) Very low-income tenants

If, as a result of actions taken pursuant to this paragraph, the rents charged to any very low-income families residing in the project who are otherwise required (pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of paragraph (1)) to receive project-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] exceed the amount payable as rent under section 3(a) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437a(a)], the Secretary shall provide tenant-based assistance under section 8 of such Act to such families.

(f) Discretionary assistanceIn addition to the actions required under subsection (e) for a subsidized, formerly subsidized, or unsubsidized multifamily housing project, the Secretary may, pursuant to the disposition plan and the goals in subsection (a), take one or more of the following actions:
(1) Discounted sales price

In accordance with the authority provided under the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], the Secretary may reduce the selling price of the project. Such reduced sales price shall be reasonably related to the intended use of the property after sale, any rehabilitation requirements for the project, the rents for units in the project that can be supported by the market, the amount of rental assistance available for the project under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f], the occupancy profile of the project (including family size and income levels for tenant families), and any other factors that the Secretary considers appropriate.

(2) Use and rent restrictions

The Secretary may require certain units in a project to be subject to use or rent restrictions providing that such units will be available to and affordable by low- and very low-income persons for the remaining useful life of the property, as defined by the Secretary.

(3) Short-term loansThe Secretary may provide short-term loans to facilitate the sale of a multifamily housing project if—
(A) authority for such loans is provided in advance in an appropriation Act;
(B) such loan has a term of not more than 5 years;
(C) the Secretary determines, based upon documentation provided to the Secretary, that the borrower has obtained a commitment of permanent financing to replace the short-term loan from a lender who meets standards established by the Secretary; and
(D) the terms of such loan are consistent with prevailing practices in the marketplace or the provision of such loan results in no cost to the Government, as defined in section 661a of title 2.
(4) Up-front grants

If the Secretary determines that action under this paragraph is more cost-effective than establishing rents pursuant to subsection (h)(2), the Secretary may utilize the budget authority provided for contracts issued under this section for project-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] to (in addition to providing project-based section 8 rental assistance) provide up-front grants for the necessary cost of rehabilitation and other related development costs. This paragraph shall be effective during fiscal years 2006 through 2010 only to the extent that such budget authority is made available for use under this paragraph in advance in appropriation Acts.

(5) Tenant-based assistance

The Secretary may make available tenant-based assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 to families residing in a multifamily housing project that do not otherwise qualify for project-based assistance.

(6) Alternative uses
(A) In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, after providing notice to and an opportunity for comment by preexisting tenants, the Secretary may allow not more than—
(i) 10 percent of the total number of units in multifamily housing projects that are disposed of by the Secretary during any fiscal year to be made available for uses other than rental or cooperative uses, including low-income homeownership opportunities, or in any particular project, community space, office space for tenant or housing-related service providers or security programs, or small business uses, if such uses benefit the tenants of the project; and
(ii) 5 percent of the total number of units in multifamily housing projects that are disposed of by the Secretary during any fiscal year to be used in any manner, if the Secretary and the unit of general local government or area-wide governing body determine that such use will further fair housing, community development, or neighborhood revitalization goals.
(B) Displacement protectionThe Secretary may take actions under subparagraph (A) only if—
(i) tenant-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] is made available to each eligible family residing in the project that is displaced as a result of such actions; and
(ii) the Secretary determines that sufficient habitable, affordable rental housing is available in the market area in which the project is located to ensure use of such assistance.
(7) Transfer for use under other programs of Secretary
(A) In generalNotwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e), the Secretary may, pursuant to an agreement under subparagraph (B), transfer a multifamily housing project—
(i) to a public housing agency for use of the project as public housing; or
(ii) to an entity eligible to own or operate housing assisted under section 1701q of this title or under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act [42 U.S.C. 8013] for use as supportive housing under either of such sections.
(B) Requirements for agreementAn agreement providing for the transfer of a project described in subparagraph (A) shall—
(i) contain such terms, conditions, and limitations as the Secretary determines appropriate, including requirements to ensure use of the project as public housing, supportive housing under section 1701q of this title, or supportive housing under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act [42 U.S.C. 8013], as applicable; and
(ii) ensure that no tenant of the project will be displaced as a result of actions taken under this paragraph.
(8) RebuildingNotwithstanding any provision of section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f], the Secretary may provide project-based assistance in accordance with subsection (e) of this section to support the rebuilding of a multifamily housing project rebuilt or to be rebuilt (in whole or in part and on-site, off-site, or in a combination of both) in connection with disposition under this section, if the Secretary determines that—
(A) the project is not being maintained in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition;
(B) rebuilding the project would be less expensive than substantial rehabilitation;
(C) the unit of general local government in which the project is located approves the rebuilding and makes a financial contribution or other commitment to the project; and
(D) the rebuilding is a part of a local neighborhood revitalization plan approved by the unit of general local government.
The provisions of subsection (j)(2) shall apply to any tenants of the project who are displaced.
(9) Emergency assistance funds

(g) Protection for unassisted very low-income tenantsFor each multifamily housing project disposed of under this section, the Secretary shall require that, for any very low-income family who is a preexisting tenant of the project who (upon disposition) would be required to pay rent in an amount in excess of 30 percent of the adjusted income (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)]) of the family—
(1) for a period of 2 years beginning upon the date of the acquisition of the project by the purchaser under such disposition, the rent for the unit occupied by the family may not be increased above the rent charged immediately before acquisition;
(2) such family shall be considered displaced for purposes of any system of preferences established pursuant to section 6(c)(4)(A), 8(d)(1)(A), or 8(o)(6)(A) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437d(c)(4)(A), 1437f(d)(1)(A), and 1437f(o)(6)(A)]; and
(3) notice shall be provided to such family, not later than the date of the acquisition of the project by the purchaser—
(A) of the requirements under paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(B) that, after the expiration of the period under paragraph (1), the rent for the unit occupied by the family may be increased.
(h) Contract requirementsContracts for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] provided pursuant to this section shall be subject to the following requirements:
(1) Contract termThe contract shall have a term of 15 years, except that the term may be less than 15 years—
(A) to the extent that the Secretary finds that, based on the rental charges and financing for the multifamily housing project to which the contract relates, the financial viability of the project can be maintained under a contract having such a term; except that the Secretary shall require that the amount of rent payable by tenants of the project for units assisted under such contract shall not exceed the amount payable for rent under section 3(a) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437a(a)] for a period of at least 15 years; or
(B) if such assistance is provided—
(i) under a contract authorized under section 6 of the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993; and
(ii) pursuant to a disposition plan under this section for a project that is determined by the Secretary to be otherwise in compliance with this section.
(2) Contract rent

The Secretary shall establish the contract rents under such contracts at levels that, together with other resources available to the purchasers, provide sufficient amounts for the necessary costs of rehabilitating and operating the multifamily housing project and do not exceed the percentage of the existing housing fair market rentals for the market area in which the project assisted under the contract is located as determined by the Secretary under section 8(c) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f(c)].

(i) Right of first refusal for local and State government agencies
(1) Notification

Not later than 30 days after the Secretary acquires title to a multifamily housing project, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate unit of general local government (including public housing agencies) and State agency or agencies designated by the chief executive officer of the State in which the project is located of such acquisition of title and that, for a period beginning upon such notification that does not exceed 90 days, such unit of general local government and agency or agencies shall have the exclusive right under this subsection to make bona fide offers to purchase the project.

(2) Right of first refusal

During the 90-day period, the Secretary may not sell or offer to sell the multifamily housing project other than to a party notified under paragraph (1), unless the unit of general local government and the designated State agency or agencies notify the Secretary that they will not make an offer to purchase the project. The Secretary shall accept a bona fide offer to purchase the project made during such period if it complies with the terms and conditions of the disposition plan for the project or is otherwise acceptable to the Secretary.

(3) Procedure

The Secretary shall establish any procedures necessary to carry out this subsection.

(j) Displacement of tenants and relocation assistance
(1) In general

Whenever tenants will be displaced as a result of the demolition of, repairs to, or conversion in the use of, a multifamily housing project that is owned by the Secretary (or for which the Secretary is mortgagee in possession), the Secretary shall identify tenants who will be displaced, and shall notify all such tenants of their pending displacement and of any relocation assistance that may be available. In the case of a multifamily housing project that is subject to a mortgage held by the Secretary, the Secretary shall require the owner of the project to carry out the requirements of this paragraph, if the Secretary has authorized the demolition of, repairs to, or conversion in the use of such multifamily housing project.

(2) Rights of displaced tenantsThe Secretary shall ensure for any such tenant (who continues to meet applicable qualification standards) the right—
(A) to return, whenever possible, to a repaired or rebuilt unit;
(B) to occupy a unit in another multifamily housing project owned by the Secretary;
(C) to obtain housing assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.]; or
(D) to receive any other available similar relocation assistance as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(k) Mortgage and project sales
(1) In general

The Secretary may not approve the sale of any loan or mortgage held by the Secretary (including any loan or mortgage owned by the Government National Mortgage Association) on any subsidized project or formerly subsidized project, unless such sale is made as part of a transaction that will ensure that such project will continue to operate at least until the maturity date of such loan or mortgage, in a manner that will provide rental housing on terms at least as advantageous to existing and future tenants as the terms required by the program under which the loan or mortgage was made or insured prior to the assignment of the loan or mortgage on such project to the Secretary.

(2) Sale of certain projectsThe Secretary may not approve the sale of any subsidized project—
(A) that is subject to a mortgage held by the Secretary, or
(B) if the sale transaction involves the provision of any additional subsidy funds by the Secretary or a recasting of the mortgage,
unless such sale is made as part of a transaction that will ensure that the project will continue to operate, at least until the maturity date of the loan or mortgage, in a manner that will provide rental housing on terms at least as advantageous to existing and future tenants as the terms required by the program under which the loan or mortgage was made or insured prior to the proposed sale of the project.
(3) Mortgage sales to State and local governmentsNotwithstanding any provision of law that requires competitive sales or bidding, the Secretary may carry out negotiated sales of mortgages held by the Secretary, without the competitive selection of purchasers or intermediaries, to units of general local government or State agencies, or groups of investors that include at least one such unit of general local government or State agency, if the negotiations are conducted with such agencies, except that—
(A) the terms of any such sale shall include the agreement of the purchasing agency or unit of local government or State agency to act as mortgagee or owner of a beneficial interest in such mortgages, in a manner consistent with maintaining the projects that are subject to such mortgages for occupancy by the general tenant group intended to be served by the applicable mortgage insurance program, including, to the extent the Secretary determines appropriate, authorizing such unit of local government or State agency to enforce the provisions of any regulatory agreement or other program requirements applicable to the related projects; and
(B) the sales prices for such mortgages shall be, in the determination of the Secretary, the best prices that may be obtained for such mortgages from a unit of general local government or State agency, consistent with the expectation and intention that the projects financed will be retained for use under the applicable mortgage insurance program for the life of the initial mortgage insurance contract.
(4) Sale of mortgages covering unsubsidized projects

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may sell mortgages held on projects that are not subsidized or formerly subsidized projects on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.

(5) Mortgage sale demonstration

The Secretary may carry out a demonstration to test the feasibility of restructuring and disposing of troubled multifamily mortgages held by the Secretary through the establishment of partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit entities.

(6) Project sale demonstration

The Secretary may carry out a demonstration to test the feasibility of disposing of troubled multifamily housing projects that are owned by the Secretary through the establishment of partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit entities.

(l) Report to CongressNot later than June 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report describing the status of multifamily housing projects owned by or subject to mortgages held by the Secretary, on an aggregate basis, which highlights the differences, if any, between the subsidized and the unsubsidized inventory. The report shall include—
(1) the average and median size of the projects;
(2) the geographic locations of the projects, by State and region;
(3) the years during which projects were assigned to the Department, and the average and median length of time that projects remain in the HUD-held inventory;
(4) the status of HUD-held mortgages;
(5) the physical condition of the HUD-held and HUD-owned inventory;
(6) the occupancy profile of the projects, including the income, family size, race, and ethnic origin of current tenants, and the rents paid by such tenants;
(7) the proportion of units that are vacant;
(8) the number of projects for which the Secretary is mortgagee in possession;
(9) the number of projects sold in foreclosure sales;
(10) the number of HUD-owned projects sold;
(11) a description of actions undertaken pursuant to this section, including a description of the effectiveness of such actions and any impediments to the disposition or management of multifamily housing projects;
(12) a description of the extent to which the provisions of this section and actions taken under this section have displaced tenants of multifamily housing projects;
(13) a description of any of the functions performed in connection with this section that are contracted out to public or private entities or to States; and
(14) a description of the activities carried out under subsection (i) during the preceding year.
(Pub. L. 95–557, title II, § 203, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2088; Pub. L. 96–153, title II, § 208, Dec. 21, 1979, 93 Stat. 1109; Pub. L. 96–399, title II, § 213, Oct. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1636; Pub. L. 100–242, title I, § 181, Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1868; Pub. L. 100–628, title X, § 1010, Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3266; Pub. L. 101–235, title II, § 204(a), Dec. 15, 1989, 103 Stat. 2039; Pub. L. 101–625, title V, § 579, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4245; Pub. L. 103–120, § 6(c)(2), Oct. 27, 1993, 107 Stat. 1149; Pub. L. 103–233, title I, § 101(b), Apr. 11, 1994, 108 Stat. 343; Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 514(b)(2)(C), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2548; Pub. L. 109–171, title II, § 2003(b), Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 9.)
§ 1701z–12. Housing access

The Secretary shall require any purchaser of a multifamily housing project owned by the Secretary which is sold on or after October 1, 1978, to agree not to refuse unreasonably to lease a vacant dwelling unit in the project which rents for an amount not greater than the fair market rent for a comparable unit in the area as determined by the Secretary under section 1437f of title 42 to a holder of a certificate of eligibility under that section solely because of such prospective tenant’s status as a certificate holder.

(Pub. L. 95–557, title II, § 204, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2090.)
§ 1701z–13. Solar energy for single-family and multifamily housing units
(a) Purpose

It is the purpose of this section to promote and extend the application of viable solar energy systems as a desirable source of energy for residential single-family and multifamily housing units.

(b) Cost-effective and economically feasible solar energy systems; “solar energy system” defined
(1) The Secretary, in carrying out programs and activities under section 1452b 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of title 42, section 1701q of this title, and section 1437f of title 42, shall permit the installation of solar energy systems which are cost-effective and economically feasible.
(2) For the purpose of this Act, the term “solar energy system” means any addition, alteration, or improvement to an existing or new structure which is designed to utilize wind energy or solar energy either of the active type based on mechanically forced energy transfer or of the passive type based on convective, conductive, or radiant energy transfer or some combination of these types to reduce the energy requirements of that structure from other energy sources, and which is in conformity with such criteria and standards as shall be prescribed by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Energy.
(c) Matters considered

In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary shall take such steps as may be necessary to encourage the installation of cost-effective and economically feasible solar energy systems in housing assisted under the programs and activities referred to in such subsection taking into account the interests of low-income homeowners and renters, including the implementation of a plan of action to publicize the availability and feasibility of solar energy systems to current or potential recipients of assistance under such programs and activities.

(d) Report to Congress
The Secretary shall, in conjunction with the Secretary of Energy, transmit to the Congress, within eighteen months after October 31, 1978, a report setting forth—
(1) the number of solar units which were contracted for or installed or which are on order under the provisions of subsection (b)(1) of this section during the first twelve full calendar months after October 31, 1978; and
(2) an analysis of any problems and benefits related to encouraging the use of solar energy systems in the programs and activities referred to in subsection (b).
(Pub. L. 95–557, title II, § 209, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 98–479, title II, § 204(n)(3), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2234.)
§ 1701z–14. Lower cost technology demonstration program

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized to develop and implement a demonstration program utilizing lower cost building technology for projects located on inner-city vacant land.

(Pub. L. 97–35, title III, § 339C, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 417.)
§ 1701z–15. Approval of individual residential water purification or treatment units
(a) In general

When the existing water supply does not meet the minimum property standards established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and a permanent alternative acceptable water supply is not available, a continuous supply of water may be provided through the use of approved residential water treatment equipment or a water purification unit that provides bacterially and chemically safe drinking water.

(b) Approval process

A performance-based approval of the equipment or unit and the maintenance, monitoring, and replacement plan for such equipment or unit shall be certified by field offices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development based upon general standards recognized by the Department as modified for local or regional conditions. As a part of such approved plan, a separate monthly escrow account may be required to be established through the lender to cover the cost of the approved yearly maintenance and monitoring schedule and projected replacement of the equipment or unit.

(Pub. L. 100–242, title IV, § 424, Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1915.)
§ 1701z–16. Energy efficient mortgages pilot program
(a) Establishment of pilot program
(1) In general

Not later than 6 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereafter referred to as the “Secretary”) shall establish an energy efficient mortgage pilot program in 5 States, to promote the purchase of existing energy efficient residential buildings and the installation of cost-effective improvements in existing residential buildings.

(2) Pilot program
The pilot program established under this subsection shall include the following criteria, where applicable:
(A) Origination

The lender shall originate a housing loan that is insured under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.] in accordance with the applicable requirements.

(B) Approval

The mortgagor’s base loan application shall be approved if the mortgagor’s income and credit record is found to be satisfactory.

(C) Costs of improvements
The cost of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements shall not exceed the greater of—
(i) 5 percent of the property value (not to exceed 5 percent of the limit established under section 203(b)(2)(A)) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(b)(2)(A); 1
1 So in original. There probably should be an additional closing parenthesis.
or
(ii) 2 percent of the limit established under section 203(b)(2)(B) of such Act [12 U.S.C. 1709(b)(2)(B)].
(D) Limitation

In any fiscal year, the aggregate number of mortgages insured pursuant to this section may not exceed 5 percent of the aggregate number of mortgages for 1- to 4-family residences insured by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.) during the preceding fiscal year.

(3) Authority for mortgagees
In granting mortgages under the pilot program established pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall grant mortgagees the authority—
(A) to permit the final loan amount to exceed the loan limits established under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.] by an amount not to exceed 100 percent of the cost of the cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, if the mortgagor’s request to add the cost of such improvements is received by the mortgagee prior to funding of the base loan;
(B) to hold in escrow all funds provided to the mortgagor to undertake the energy efficiency improvements until the efficiency improvements are actually installed; and
(C) to transfer or sell the energy efficient mortgage to the appropriate secondary market agency, after the mortgage is issued, but before the energy efficiency improvements are actually installed.
(4) Promotion of pilot program
The Secretary shall encourage participation in the energy efficient mortgage pilot program by—
(A) making available information to lending agencies and other appropriate authorities regarding the availability and benefits of energy efficient mortgages;
(B) requiring mortgagees and designated lending authorities to provide written notice of the availability and benefits of the pilot program to mortgagors applying for financing in those States designated by the Secretary as participating under the pilot program; and
(C) requiring each applicant for a mortgage insured under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.] in those States participating under the pilot program to sign a statement that such applicant has been informed of the program requirements and understands the benefits of energy efficient mortgages.
(5) Training program

Not later than 9 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish and implement a program for training personnel at relevant lending agencies, real estate companies, and other appropriate organizations regarding the benefits of energy efficient mortgages and the operation of the pilot program under this subsection.

(6) Report

Not later than 18 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall prepare and submit a report to the Congress describing the effectiveness and implementation of the energy efficient mortgage pilot program as described under this subsection, and assessing the potential for expanding the pilot program nationwide.

(b) Expansion of program

Not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of the implementation of the energy efficient mortgage pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall expand the pilot program on a nationwide basis and shall expand the program to include new residential housing, unless the Secretary determines that either such expansion would not be practicable in which case the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, before the expiration of such period, a report explaining why either expansion would not be practicable.

(c) Definitions
For purposes of this section:
(1) The term “base loan” means any mortgage loan for a residential building eligible for insurance under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.] or title 38 that does not include the cost of cost-effective energy improvements.
(2) The term “cost-effective” means, with respect to energy efficiency improvements to a residential building, improvements that result in the total present value cost of the improvements (including any maintenance and repair expenses) being less than the total present value of the energy saved over the useful life of the improvement, when 100 percent of the cost of improvements is added to the base loan. For purposes of this paragraph, savings and cost-effectiveness shall be determined pursuant to a home energy rating report sufficient for purposes of the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or by other technically accurate methods.
(3) The term “energy efficient mortgage” means a mortgage on a residential building that recognizes the energy savings of a home that has cost-effective energy saving construction or improvements (including solar water heaters, solar-assisted air conditioners and ventilators, super-insulation, and insulating glass and film) and that has the effect of not disqualifying a borrower who, but for the expenditures on energy saving construction or improvements, would otherwise have qualified for a base loan.
(4) The term “residential building” means any attached or unattached single family residence.
(d) Rule of construction

This section may not be construed to affect any other programs of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for energy-efficient mortgages. The pilot program carried out under this section shall not replace or result in the termination of such other programs.

(e) Regulations

The Secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on October 24, 1992. The regulations shall be issued after notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the provisions of section 553 of title 5 (notwithstanding subsections (a)(2), (b)(B), and (d)(3) of such section).

(f) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 106, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2792; Pub. L. 110–289, div. B, title I, § 2123, July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2839.)
§ 1701z–17. Increasing access and understanding of energy efficient mortgages
(a) Definition

As used in this section, the term “energy efficient mortgage” has the same meaning as given that term in paragraph (24) of section 12704 of title 42.

(b) Recommendations to eliminate barriers to use of energy efficient mortgages
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after July 30, 2008, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in conjunction with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall consult with the residential mortgage industry and States to develop recommendations to eliminate the barriers that exist to increasing the availability, use, and purchase of energy efficient mortgages, including such barriers as—
(A) the lack of reliable and accessible information on such mortgages, including estimated energy savings and other benefits of energy efficient housing;
(B) the confusion regarding underwriting requirements and differences among various energy efficient mortgage programs;
(C) the complex and time consuming process of securing such mortgages;
(D) the lack of publicly available research on the default risk of such mortgages; and
(E) the availability of certified or accredited home energy rating services.
(2) Report to Congress
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit a report to Congress that—
(A) summarizes the recommendations developed under paragraph (1); and
(B) includes any recommendations for statutory, regulatory, or administrative changes that the Secretary deems necessary to institute such recommendations.
(c) Energy efficient mortgages outreach campaign
(1) In general
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation and coordination with the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and State Energy and Housing Finance Directors, shall carry out an education and outreach campaign to inform and educate consumers, home builders, residential lenders, and other real estate professionals on the availability, benefits, and advantages of—
(A) improved energy efficiency in housing; and
(B) energy efficient mortgages.
(2) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the education and outreach campaign described under paragraph (1).

(Pub. L. 110–289, div. B, title IX, § 2902, July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2876.)