The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on January 6 published a final rule for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The HOME program provides grants to states and localities to support affordable housing initiatives; the funding is used by many LeadingAge members who are developing new housing that is affordable to older adults with low incomes.

The final rule, laid out in more than 500 pages, was proposed in May 2024 after a years-long effort by the agency. It makes key changes to enhance tenant protections, update property standards, adjust required periods of affordability, revise roles for Community Housing Development Organizations, implement environmental and safety hazard notification requirements, and more.

Notably, an initial proposal by HUD to extend eviction notification timeframes to 60 days was withdrawn to maintain consistency with other HUD programs, which require a 30-day notification timeframe prior to termination of tenancy.

LeadingAge welcomes the HOME final rule, which is effective February 5, 2025, and applauds the agency for its efforts to enhance and streamline HOME requirements.

LeadingAge on July 26, 2024 submitted comments to HUD as part of the National Preservation Working Group.