Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act

The "Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act" seeks to leverage underutilized United States Postal Service (USPS) properties to combat the national housing shortage and bolster the USPS's financial stability. The bill mandates the establishment of a Housing Liaison Office within the USPS, tasked with identifying parcels suitable for housing development and creating a process for leasing these properties. This office will publish an inventory of potential sites and guide Joint Development Partnerships , comprising public entities and experienced housing developers, through the proposal and negotiation stages. Lease agreements, which must be for a minimum term of 60 years, are central to this initiative. They require that at least 20 percent of the new housing units be affordable to households earning 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income for not less than 50 years. Furthermore, these leases must ensure that the USPS receives revenue equivalent to at least the appraised fair annual rental value or net present value of the leased property rights, after accounting for any public benefit. The bill prioritizes lease agreements that contribute to the maintenance of existing USPS facilities, involve partners with a track record of efficient housing development and securing subsidies, and maximize income-restricted affordability. Importantly, all construction work performed under these leases must adhere to prevailing wage standards , as determined by the Secretary of Labor. The act also provides initial funding for the Housing Liaison Office from USPS property sales and authorizes annual appropriations, while prohibiting the outright sale of USPS property rights for housing development under this program.