Bill Summary
The **Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere Act** (ABODE Act) is legislation aimed at addressing affordable housing shortages in the United States. It mandates the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to conduct a grant competition for the development or rehabilitation of single- and multi-family homes targeted at households earning no more than 50% of the area median income.
Key provisions of the ABODE Act include:
1. **Grant Competition**: HUD will provide grants to various organizations, including academic and nonprofit entities, to create or improve housing options while focusing on reducing costs, enhancing energy efficiency, and ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
2. **Use of Funds**: Grants will be awarded upon the successful completion of predetermined housing projects that meet specific resiliency and energy efficiency standards.
3. **Prioritization Criteria**: Grant awards will prioritize projects located in areas with significant affordable housing shortages, projects that emphasize quality and maintenance, and those that incorporate universal design for accessibility.
4. **Reporting Requirement**: The Secretary must submit a report to Congress within two years of the Act's enactment, detailing funded projects, the number of affordable homes built, and the results of a study on the effectiveness of the implemented resiliency and energy efficiency measures.
5. **Funding Authorization**: The Act authorizes necessary appropriations to implement these provisions.
Overall, the ABODE Act seeks to enhance the availability and quality of affordable housing while promoting sustainable and accessible living conditions.
Possible Impacts
The "Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere Act" (ABODE Act) could affect people in various ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Access to Affordable Housing**: By prioritizing grants for the development and rehabilitation of homes for households earning up to 50% of the area median income, the ABODE Act aims to address the affordable housing crisis. This could lead to more individuals and families being able to find safe, affordable housing options, reducing homelessness and housing instability.
2. **Improved Housing Quality and Sustainability**: The focus on reducing development costs while increasing energy efficiency and resiliency means that the homes built or rehabilitated under this act are likely to be of higher quality. This could lead to lower utility bills for residents and a more sustainable living environment, benefiting not only the inhabitants but also the wider community by promoting environmentally friendly practices.
3. **Enhanced Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities**: The emphasis on universal design in the homes developed or rehabilitated under the ABODE Act ensures that these residences are accessible to individuals with disabilities. This can significantly improve their quality of life by providing them with greater independence and access to housing that meets their needs, promoting inclusivity within communities.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7326 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7326
To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a
grant competition for the development of single- and multi-family
homes, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 3, 2026
Mr. Foster (for himself, Ms. Pettersen, and Mr. Fields) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial
Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a
grant competition for the development of single- and multi-family
homes, 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 ``Advancing Better Options for
Dwellings Everywhere Act'' or the ``ABODE Act''.
SEC. 2. COMPETITION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in
this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with
the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency,
shall--
(1) conduct a grant competition to provide grants to
academic organizations, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit
or nonprofit mission-driven developers to develop, or
rehabilitate existing, single- and multi-family homes--
(A) for households with an income that is not more
than 50 percent of the area median income; and
(B) with a focus on--
(i) reducing development costs;
(ii) increasing resiliency, energy
efficiency, accessibility for individuals with
disabilities; and
(iii) selecting projects that are built to
scale; and
(2) study the short- and long-term savings of the
resiliency and energy efficiency measures that were implemented
in the homes described in paragraph (1).
(b) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded under this section shall be
awarded at completion of the contract for building a pre-determined
number of homes that abide by pre-determined resiliency and energy
efficiency measures.
(c) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize grant awards that--
(1) develop or rehabilitate homes in areas with a severe
affordable housing shortage;
(2) focus on quality, durability and maintenance costs, and
neighborhood design compatibility; or
(3) develop or rehabilitate homes with universal design
that provides access for individuals with disabilities.
(d) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
competition and study conducted under this section, which shall
include--
(1) a description of the projects funded and completed;
(2) the number and sales or rental price, as applicable, of
affordable houses built; and
(3) the results of the study described in subsection
(a)(2).
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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