House Approves FY 2022 Omnibus Bill with Funding for HUD and Rural Housing Programs

The House of Representatives yesterday passed an omnibus appropriations bill, H.R. 4502, that combines seven fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations bills and includes funding for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural housing programs. The bill passed on a party-line vote of 219–208, with all Democrats present voting for and all Republicans present voting against.

The bill includes substantial increases to many HUD programs, including the HOME Investment Partnerships program and Section 8 rental assistance. In total, the bill provides $56.5 billion for HUD programs and activities, $6.8 billion more the FY 2021 enacted level and $314 million below President Biden’s FY 2022 budget request.

The bill will now be sent to the Senate. Key program funding levels are listed below.

 HUD Program Funding

• $1.85 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, an increase of $500 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and level with the president’s budget request. The funding includes a $50 million set-aside for a new down payment assistance program to help first-time and first-generation home buyers.
• $29.2 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, an increase from $25.8 billion in FY 2021 and $1.2 billion below the president’s budget request. The funding includes $1 billion to expand housing assistance to nearly 125,000 low-income households.
• $14 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance, an increase of $535 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and level with the president’s budget request.
• $3.7 billion for Community Development Block Grants, an increase of $225 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $100 million below the president’s budget request.
• $3.4 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, an increase of $400 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $100 million below the president’s budget request.
• $1 billion for Housing for the Elderly, an increase of $145 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $72 million above the president’s budget request.
• $600 million for Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS, an increase of $170 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $150 million above the president’s budget request.
• $400 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, double the FY 2021 enacted level and $215 million above the president’s budget request.
• $352 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities, an increase of $105 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $60 million above the president’s budget request.
• $100 million for Housing Counseling, an increase of $42.5 million above the FY 2021 level and $44.1 million above the president’s budget request.
• $20 million for eviction prevention services, level with the FY 2021 enacted level and the president’s budget request.
• $460 million for the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, an increase of $100 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $60 million above the president’s budget request.
• $4 million for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

USDA Rural Housing Program Funding

• $30 billion in loan authority for Section 502 Singe-Family Guaranteed loans, up from $24 billion from FY 2021.
• $1.5 billion in loan authority for Section 502 Direct loans, up $500 million from FY 2021.
• $230 million for Section 538 Multifamily Guaranteed loans, level with FY 2021.
• $40 million for Section 515 Multifamily Direct loans, even with FY 2021.
• $1.45 billion for Section 521 Rental Assistance, up slightly from FY 2021.
• $45 million for Section 542 Rural Housing Vouchers, up from $40 million in FY 2021.
• $60 million for the Rental Preservation Demonstration program.