This Act may be cited as the “Housing Our Communities Act”.

(a) In general.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to assist planning and implementation activities associated with affordable housing.

(b) Use of amounts.—

(1) BY REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES.—If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this Act is a regional planning agency or consortia of regional planning agencies, such eligible entity shall use such amounts to assist planning activities with respect to affordable housing, including—

(A) the development of housing plans;

(B) the substantial improvement of State or local housing strategies;

(C) the development of new regulatory requirements and processes;

(D) updating zoning codes;

(E) increasing the capacity to conduct housing inspections;

(F) increasing the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability;

(G) the development of local or regional plans for community development; and

(H) the substantial improvement of community development strategies, including strategies designed to—

(i) increase the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing;

(ii) increase access to public transportation; and

(iii) advance sustainable or location-efficient community development goals.

(2) BY STATES, INSULAR AREAS, METROPOLITAN CITIES, AND URBAN COUNTIES.—If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this Act is a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, such eligible entity shall use such amounts to—

(A) implement and administer housing strategies and housing plans;

(B) implement and administer any plans to increase housing choice, address disparities in housing needs, and provide greater access to opportunity;

(C) fund any community investments that support goals identified in a housing strategy or housing plan;

(D) implement and administer regulatory requirements and processes with respect to reformed zoning codes;

(E) increase the capacity to conduct housing inspections;

(F) increase the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability;

(G) implement and administer local or regional plans for community development; and

(H) fund any planning to increase—

(i) the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing;

(ii) access to public transportation; and

(iii) any location-efficient community development goals.

(3) USE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—A eligible entity that receives amounts under this Act may not use more than 10-percent of such amounts for administrative costs.

(c) Coordination.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Federal Transit Administrator in carrying out this Act.

(d) Additional uses of amounts.—

(1) HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.—Expenditures on new construction of housing shall be an eligible expense under this Act.

(2) BUILDINGS FOR GENERAL CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT.—Expenditures on building for the general conduct of government, other than the Federal Government, shall be eligible under this Act when necessary and appropriate as a part of a natural hazard mitigation project.

(e) Definitions.—In this subsection:

(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, as such terms are defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; or

(B) a regional planning agency or consortia of regional planning agencies.

(2) HOUSING PLAN.—The term “housing plan” means a plan to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an eligible entity—

(A) increase the amount of available housing to meet the demand for such housing and any projected increase in the demand for such housing;

(B) increase the affordability of housing;

(C) increase the accessibility of housing for people with disabilities, including location-efficient housing;

(D) preserve or improve the quality of housing;

(E) reduce barriers to housing development; and

(F) coordinate with transportation-related agencies.

(3) HOUSING STRATEGY.—The term “housing strategy” means a housing strategy required under section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.