S. 4020 — Housing Supply and Affordability Act

This section establishes a competitive grant program, to be administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) not later than one year after enactment, to fund planning and implementation activities (excluding construction, alteration, or repair) associated with affordable housing for eligible entities, defined as states, insular areas, metropolitan cities, urban counties, or regional planning agencies (or consortia thereof); the program terminates five years after enactment. Eligible entities may use grants, with no more than 10% for administrative costs, as follows: (1) regional planning agencies for developing or improving housing plans (i.e., plans to increase available and affordable housing, improve accessibility and quality, reduce development barriers, and coordinate with transportation), substantially improving housing strategies required under current law (42 U.S.C. 12705) for jurisdictions to receive HUD assistance, developing regulatory processes and zoning updates, enhancing inspection capacity and barrier reduction, and improving community development strategies to expand affordable housing access, public transportation, and location-efficient development; and (2) states, insular areas, metropolitan cities, and urban counties for implementing housing strategies and plans (including to increase housing choice and access to opportunity), funding supporting community investments, administering reformed zoning and inspections, reducing barriers, implementing community development plans, and planning to boost affordable housing, transportation access, and location-efficient development. HUD must coordinate with the Federal Transit Administration to the extent practicable. (As background, housing strategies under current law require jurisdictions to assess needs projected over five years for low-income families, the homeless, and other groups and outline related actions to qualify for HUD formula assistance.)