H.R. 5591

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To establish a pilot program to convert blighted buildings into housing.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 26, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Liccardo · Committee: Committee on Financial Services

Table of contents

• H.R. 5591
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Blighted Building to Housing Conversion Program

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Blighted Building to Housing Conversion Program

• (a) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term attainable housing means housing that—
    • The term converted housing unit means a housing unit that is created using a covered grant.
    • The term covered grant means a grant awarded under the Pilot Program.
    • The term eligible entity means a participating jurisdiction, as that term is defined in section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (). 42 U.S.C. 12704
    • The term HOME Investment Partnerships Program means the program under subtitle A of title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (). 42 U.S.C. 12741 et seq.
    • The term Pilot Program means the Blighted Building to Housing Conversion Program carried out under subsection (b).
    • The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
    • The term vacant and abandoned building means a property—
• (b) Grant program
  • For each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, if the amounts made available to carry out the HOME Investment Partnerships Program exceed $1,350,000,000, the Secretary may use not more than $100,000,000 of the excess amounts to carry out a pilot program, to be known as the , under which the Secretary awards grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to convert vacant and abandoned buildings into attainable housing. Blighted Building to Housing Conversion Program
• (c) Amount of grant
  • Amount of grant
  • (1) In general
    • For any fiscal year for which $100,000,000 is available to carry out the Pilot Program pursuant to subsection (b), the amount of a covered grant shall be not less than $1,000,000 and not more than $10,000,000.
    • In general
  • (2) Fiscal years with lower funding
    • For any fiscal year for which less than $100,000,000 is available to carry out the Pilot Program pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary shall seek to maximize the number of covered grants awarded.
• (d) Relation to HOME Investment Partnerships Program formula allocation
  • A covered grant awarded to an eligible entity shall be in addition to, and shall not affect, the formula allocation for the eligible entity under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
• (e) Priority
  • In awarding covered grants, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that—
    • will use the covered grant in a community that is experiencing economic distress;
    • will use the covered grant in a qualified opportunity zone (as defined in of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); section 1400Z–1(a)
    • will use the covered grant to construct housing that will serve a need identified in the comprehensive housing affordability strategy and community development plan of the eligible entity under part 91 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation (commonly referred to as a ); or consolidated plan
    • has enacted ordinances to reduce regulatory barriers to conversion of commercial or industrial properties to housing, which shall not include any alteration of an ordinance that governs safety and habitability.
• (f) Use of funds
  • An eligible entity may use a covered grant for—
    • property acquisition;
    • demolition;
    • health hazard remediation;
    • site preparation;
    • construction, renovation, or rehabilitation; or
    • the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of community land trusts.
• (g) Applicability of HOME requirements
  • The requirements for rental, sale, and resale of housing under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program shall apply to rental, sale, and resale of converting housing units under the Pilot Program.
  • Applicability of HOME requirements
• (h) Waiver authority
  • In administering covered grants, the Secretary may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use by eligible entities of covered grant funds (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, or the environment) if the Secretary makes a public finding that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement.
  • Waiver authority
• (i) Study; report
  • Not later than 180 days after the termination of the Pilot Program, the Secretary shall study and submit a report to Congress on the impact of the Pilot Program on—
    • improving the tax base of local communities;
    • increasing access to affordable housing, especially for elderly individuals, disabled individuals, and veterans;
    • increasing homeownership; and
    • removing blight.