Bill Summary
The "Strengthening Housing Supply Act of 2025" aims to enhance affordable housing development by amending the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. It designates the construction of affordable housing as an eligible activity for funding under this program. Specifically, the bill adds new provisions that allow for the new construction of affordable housing, in addition to existing activities like rehabilitation. The changes will apply to funds appropriated after the Act is enacted, thereby facilitating the allocation of resources toward addressing housing shortages for low and moderate-income individuals.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Strengthening Housing Supply Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Increased Affordable Housing Availability**: By designating affordable housing construction as an eligible activity under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the legislation could lead to an increase in the number of affordable housing units being built in communities across the country. This could provide low- and moderate-income families with more options for safe and stable housing, potentially reducing homelessness and housing instability.
2. **Economic Stimulus and Job Creation**: The authorization for new affordable housing construction may stimulate local economies by creating jobs in construction, architecture, and related fields. As new housing projects are funded and built, they can generate employment opportunities for a variety of skill levels, which can help to reduce unemployment rates in affected areas.
3. **Community Development and Revitalization**: By facilitating the construction of affordable housing, the legislation could contribute to the revitalization of underdeveloped or economically distressed neighborhoods. New housing projects can attract additional investment, businesses, and services to the area, improving the overall quality of life for residents and fostering a sense of community.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5077 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5077
To authorize affordable housing construction as an eligible activity
under the Community Development Block Grant Program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 29, 2025
Ms. Waters introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize affordable housing construction as an eligible activity
under the Community Development Block Grant Program, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Housing Supply Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AS ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY UNDER
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Eligible Activity.--Subsection (a) of section 105 of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (25)(D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (26), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(27) the new construction of affordable housing, within
the meaning given such term under section 215 of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12745).''.
(b) Low and Moderate Income Requirement.--Paragraph (3) of section
105(c) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.
5305(c)(3)) is amended by striking ``or rehabilitation'' and inserting
``, rehabilitation, or new construction''.
(c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply
with respect only to amounts appropriated after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
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