Dive Brief:
- The National League of Cities this month launched a tracker for cities to review key provisions within the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
- The tracker monitors 35 initiatives in the federal law that will directly impact local governments, from changes to federal grant programs to reduced regulatory requirements to housing preservation programs, NLC said.
- The National Association of Counties, the Bipartisan Policy Center and the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders have also launched 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act implementation trackers.
Dive Insight:
The wide-ranging housing bill, passed by Congress in July, has more than 120 implementation actions, the majority of them the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which has begun taking steps to execute measures within the bill.
Among the most significant provisions for local governments are changes to the Community Development Block Grant program that allow grantees to direct up to 20% of their annual award toward affordable housing construction, according to NLC.
“Passing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act was a historic achievement, but the real measure of its success will be what happens in our communities,” Clarence Anthony, NLC CEO and executive director, said in a news release. “Local leaders are ready to turn this legislation into more housing availability and affordability for their residents.”
The law also expands eligibility for existing programs such as the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and provides “additional flexibility for certain housing-related infrastructure investments,” NLC said in a news release.
The legislation preserves local zoning authority and avoids imposing unfunded mandates on local governments, NLC said.
“However, several newly authorized programs will depend on future federal funding decisions, making continued engagement between local leaders, Congress and federal agencies essential,” the organization stated.
It could take years for local governments to fully implement the landmark bipartisan housing legislation, according to analysis by the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders and the Center for Affordable Housing Lending.
