The Housing Innovation Act would create an Office of Housing Innovation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The office would share information about housing approaches, coordinate with federal agencies, support partnerships, and provide technical help to local governments. The bill would also establish grants for local housing planning, research and pilot projects, and education and community outreach. It was introduced on January 31, 2025, and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Eligible local governments in urbanized areas could apply for grants to plan ways to increase, improve the affordability of, and diversify local housing, including near transit and job centers. Partnerships could apply for grants for housing and commuting research, pilot studies, and community education. The bill does not guarantee that any particular community or person would receive funding.
The bill would authorize $50 million for the office’s salaries and expenses for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year after that. It would separately authorize $100 million per year for the bill’s programs for fiscal years 2026 through 2032: 90% for local planning grants, 5% for research and pilot grants, and 5% for education grants. Local planning grants could not exceed $2 million; research and pilot grants, $500,000; and education grants, $200,000. Some repeat grants would be limited by the recipient’s non-federal contribution. These are authorized amounts, not a statement that the money has been appropriated.
The bill states that new housing approaches, coordination of federal resources, and local planning could help address housing shortages, affordability, housing choices, and commuting challenges.
No publicly available information.