H.R. 3295: REHABS Act of 2019

the best methods to assess the amount of mold in a single family home prior to such home being rehabilitated;

the danger posed by mold in a single family home prior to such home being rehabilitated; and

best practices for safely removing mold when rehabilitating a single family home.

assistance provided under this section is used to provide for or facilitate the abatement and removal of environmental hazards in homes being rehabilitated through the provision of self-help housing, under which the homeowner contributes a significant amount of sweat equity toward the rehabilitation of the dwelling;

the dwellings for which abatement or removal is performed in connection with assistance provided under this section are quality dwellings that comply with local building and safety codes and standards and are available at prices below the prevailing market prices;

the provision of assistance under this section establishes and fosters a partnership between the Federal Government and organizations and consortia, resulting in efficient rehabilitation of affordable housing with minimal governmental intervention, limited governmental regulation, and significant involvement by private entities;

activities to rehabilitate housing assisted pursuant to this section involve community participation in which volunteers assist in the rehabilitation of dwellings; and

assistance under this section for the abatement or removal of environmental hazards is provided for dwellings on a geographically diverse basis, which shall include areas having high housing costs, rural areas, and areas underserved by other homeownership opportunities that are populated by low-income families unable to otherwise afford housing.

In general

Any amounts from a grant made under this section shall be deposited by the grantee organization or consortium in a fund that is established by such organization or consortium for such amounts, administered by such organization or consortium, and available only for the uses described in subsection (d). Any interest, fees, or other earnings of the fund shall be deposited in the fund and shall be considered grant amounts for purposes of this section.

Assistance to affiliates

Any organization or consortia that receives a grant under this section may use amounts in the fund established for such organizations or consortia pursuant to paragraph (1), for the uses described in subsection (d), by providing assistance from the fund to local affiliates of such organizations and consortia.

an expression of interest by such organization or consortia to the Secretary for a grant for such purposes; and

a grant agreement entered into under subsection (g).

require such organization or consortia to use grant amounts only as provided in this section;

require the organization or consortia to use the grant amounts in a manner that leverages other sources of funding other than grants under this section, including private or public funds, in rehabilitating dwellings;

provide that the Secretary shall recapture any grant amounts provided to the organization or consortia that are not used within 24 months after such amounts are first disbursed to the organization or consortia; and

contain such other terms as the Secretary may require to provide for compliance with subsection (b) and the requirements of this section.

the organization awarded the grant shall keep such records and adopt such administrative practices as the Secretary may require to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section and the grant agreement; and

the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, and any of their duly appointed representatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of the grantee organization or consortia and its affiliates that are pertinent to the grant made under this section.

the grants made under this section;

the grantees;

the housing for which abatement or removal of environmental hazards was performed in connection with the grant amounts; and

the purposes for which the grant amounts were used.