Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing)

Cory Schwartz
202.402.4105
CDBG-PROHousing@hud.gov

PRO Housing grants provide funding to state and local government entities to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. Funds may be used to develop, evaluate, and implement housing policy plans, improve housing strategies, and facilitate affordable housing production and preservation.

Program goals:

• Decrease the cost and increase the supply of affordable housing, especially in Opportunity Zones and rural communities
• Remove barriers to affordable housing, removal of which will lead to constructing or rehabilitating more units, reducing time to produce units, and unlocking land that can be used for affordable housing units
• Reward jurisdictions that have enacted laws and regulations that will lead to more affordable housing production and preservation
• Increase opportunities for affordable homeownership by reducing administrative and structural barriers

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Development activities including new construction of affordable housing and mixed income housing to the greatest extent possible
• Infrastructure activities directly related to new housing development
• Housing preservation activities, which includes rehabilitation of existing housing
• Planning for supporting affordable housing (policy work) if the planning directly results in affordable housing

Four preference points will be given to applications proposing projects that serve Opportunity Zones and rural areas.

Eligible applicants include:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
• Multijurisdictional entities
• Faith-based organizations

Award ceiling: $10,000,000
Award floor: $5,000,000
Project period: 72 months
Estimated number of awards: 10
Estimated total program funding: $50,000,000

While matching funds are not required, HUD will award points for leverage in Rating Factor 2 (Soundness of Approach) for applications that propose financial leverage and provide the required firm commitments and supporting documentation to support each source of financial leverage.

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.