Vice President Kamala Harris and HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman made the announcement, emphasizing the need to remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation.

The PRO Housing program aims to identify and eliminate unnecessary obstacles that hinder the construction of affordable housing and the reduction of housing costs. The grant funding will be given to communities that have demonstrated progress in addressing local housing barriers, such as outdated land-use policies, high development costs, lack of available units, and inadequate infrastructure.

The winners of the PRO Housing competition will be responsible for updating state and local housing plans, revising land use policies, streamlining the permitting process for housing construction, and implementing other actions to create more housing-forward communities. Additionally, the grants will be used to preserve existing affordable housing units, provide development subsidies for new affordable units, and improve access to homeownership.

Vice President Harris expressed the administration's commitment to ensuring every American has access to affordable housing. She stated, "President Biden and I believe that every American deserves affordable housing, so they have a roof over their head and a place to call home. Today, I am proud to announce that we are taking a critical step forward by investing $85 million to help more than 20 communities throughout our country remove barriers to building more affordable housing."

HUD Acting Secretary Todman highlighted the difficulties faced by builders and stakeholders in constructing housing and welcomed the PRO Housing funding, which provides incentives for communities to address their local housing barriers. This initiative expands on the administration's efforts to increase the housing supply and lower housing costs.

The first round of PRO Housing funding received significant interest, with applications submitted from over 175 communities across 47 states and territories. Successful applicants demonstrated a commitment to removing housing barriers and progressing towards housing-forward communities. To further support these communities, technical assistance will be provided. An additional $100 million in funding will also be released later this year for the second round of the PRO Housing competition.

By empowering communities to address barriers to housing construction and preservation, the PRO Housing awards will contribute to increasing housing supply and advancing housing opportunities. These actions align with the Biden-Harris Administration's Housing Supply Action Plan and HUD's Strategic Plan, which aim to lower housing costs, ensure equitable development, and build resilient, sustainable communities.

For more information on the winning communities and their efforts to address local housing needs, HUD has created PRO Housing Profiles for each awardee. The administration's commitment to tackling the housing crisis remains strong, with an additional $100 million allocated for the program in President Biden's FY 25 budget.

The proactive measures taken by the Biden-Harris Administration reflect the urgency and determination to create more affordable housing options and provide Americans with a place they can call home.