ABODE Act

The "Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere Act" (ABODE Act) directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to launch a grant competition. This competition will provide funding to academic organizations, nonprofits, and mission-driven developers for creating or rehabilitating single- and multi-family homes specifically for households earning not more than 50 percent of the area median income. The initiative emphasizes reducing development costs , enhancing resiliency , improving energy efficiency , and ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities , with a focus on projects built to scale. Grant awards are contingent upon the completion of a predetermined number of homes that meet specified resiliency and energy efficiency standards. HUD will prioritize projects addressing severe affordable housing shortages, those focusing on quality, durability, and neighborhood compatibility, and those incorporating universal design . The Act also requires HUD to study the short- and long-term savings from these measures and report its findings, along with project details, to Congress within two years.