PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must give priority to leasing or selling certain government-owned housing so it can be used for short-term transitional housing and so tenants or eligible families can move into permanent, ready-to-buy homes. The Secretary can lease properties to public agencies or nonprofits that help homeless people. Those groups can rent the units to families for up to 10 years and can help tenants get loans to buy the homes. When a group asks in writing to lease or buy a property, the Secretary will pull the property off the market for up to 30 days to negotiate. Leases can last up to 10 years and are set at $1 for the full term. If a property is sold under this program, the price may be up to the fair market value minus 10 percent. If a lease or sale is agreed, the Secretary must start repairs so the home meets decent, safe, and sanitary standards. Agencies and nonprofits must, as much as possible, involve homeless people in jobs, volunteer work, or services for these properties. Each group must include at least one homeless or formerly homeless person on its board or policy-making body, unless the Secretary allows a waiver and the group agrees to consult with homeless people instead. All of this can happen only if Congress approves the money in appropriation laws.

Title 42, §11408a

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall, on a priority basis, lease or sell program and nonprogram inventory properties held by the Secretary under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.]—

(1)to provide transitional housing; and

(2)to provide turnkey housing for tenants of such transitional housing and for eligible families.

(b)Priority

The priority uses of inventory property under this section shall not have a higher priority than—

(1)the disposition of such property by sale to eligible families; or

(2)the disposition of such property by transfer for use as rental housing by eligible families.

(c)Transitional housing

(1)Leases authorized

The Secretary shall lease inventory properties to public agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide transitional housing for homeless families and individuals and to provide such agencies the option to provide turnkey housing opportunities for homeless persons and other inadequately housed families.

(2)Rental to eligible families

A public agency or nonprofit organization may rent housing leased to it under paragraph (1) to a family for up to 10 years and may, during that period, assist the tenant in obtaining a loan and credit assistance under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.] to purchase the housing from the Secretary.

(d)Lease procedures

(1)Identification of property

Upon receipt by the Secretary of written notification from a public agency or nonprofit organization that it proposes to lease a property for the purpose of providing transitional housing or for the purpose of providing transitional housing and turnkey housing opportunities, the Secretary shall—

(A)withdraw the property from the market for not more than 30 days for the purpose of negotiations under subparagraph (B);

(B)negotiate a lease agreement with the organization or agency; and

(C)if a lease is agreed to, commence the repairs necessary to make the property meet standards for decent, safe, and sanitary housing.

(2)Lease terms

A lease of inventory property under this section shall—

(A)be for a period of not more than 10 years;

(B)provide for the payment of $1 for the 10-year lease; and

(C)provide the nonprofit organization or public agency—

(i)the right to use the property for transitional housing; and

(ii)the option to arrange for the sale of the property to an eligible purchaser.

(e)Purchase procedures

(1)Identification of property

Upon receipt by the Secretary of written notification from a public agency or nonprofit organization that it proposes to purchase a property for the purpose of providing transitional housing or for the purpose of providing transitional housing and turnkey housing opportunities, the Secretary shall—

(A)withdraw the property from the market for not more than 30 days for the purpose of negotiations under subparagraph (B);

(B)negotiate a purchase agreement with the organization or agency; and

(C)if a purchase agreement is agreed to, commence the repairs necessary to make the property meet standards for decent, safe, and sanitary housing.

(2)Purchase terms

A purchase of inventory property under this section shall provide for a purchase price equal to not more than the fair market value of the property minus 10 percent.

(f)Employment of homeless individuals

A public agency or nonprofit organization may lease or purchase property under this section only if the agency or organization, to the maximum extent practicable, involves homeless individuals and families, through employment, volunteer services, or otherwise, in maintaining, operating, and renovating any properties leased or acquired under this section and in providing any services for occupants of properties assisted under this section.

(g)Participation of homeless individuals

(1)In general

The Secretary shall, by regulation, require each public agency and nonprofit organization leasing or purchasing property under this section to provide for the participation of not less than 1 homeless individual or former homeless individual on the board of directors or other equivalent policy making entity of such agency or organization, to the extent that such organization or applicant considers and makes policies and decisions regarding any property acquired under this section.

(2)Waiver

The Secretary may grant a waiver to a public agency or nonprofit organization that is unable to meet the requirement of paragraph (1), if the agency or organization agrees to otherwise consult with homeless or formerly homeless individuals in considering and making such policies and decisions.

(h)Budget compliance

The authority provided to the Secretary under this section shall be effective only to the extent approved in advance in appropriations Acts.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Housing Act of 1949, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c)(2), is act July 15, 1949, ch. 338, 63 Stat. 413. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1471 et seq.) of chapter 8A of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1441 of this title and Tables.

§11408a Use of Fmha Inventory for Transitional Housing for Homeless Persons and for Turnkey Housing