---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 11904"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "11904"
heading: "Applications"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/11904"
units:
  - "Chapter 124 — Public Housing Drug Elimination"
  - "Subchapter I — Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination"
---

# §11904. Applications

- (a) **In general—** To receive a grant under this subchapter, a public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), a public housing resident management [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), an [Indian tribe](/usc/42/11905.md?p=6)[^1] a [recipient](/usc/42/11905.md?p=5) of assistance under the Native American [Housing Assistance](/usc/42/13641.md?p=3) and Self-Determination Act of 1996 [[25 U.S.C. 4101](/usc/25/4101.md) et seq.], or an [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) of [federally assisted low-income housing](/usc/42/11905.md?p=4) shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3), at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) may reasonably require. Such application shall include a plan for addressing the problem of [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4)-related or violent crime in and around of[^2] the housing administered or owned by the applicant for which the application is being submitted, which plan shall be coordinated with and may be included in the public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) plan submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) pursuant to [section 1437c–1 of this title](/usc/42/1437c–1.md).
- (b) **One-year renewable grants—**
  - (1) **In general—** An eligible applicant that is a public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) may apply for a 1-year grant under this subchapter that, subject to the availability of appropriated amounts, shall be renewed annually for a period of not more than 4 additional years, except that such renewal shall be contingent upon the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) finding, upon an annual or more frequent review, that the grantee [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) is performing under the terms of the grant and applicable laws in a satisfactory manner and meets such other requirements as the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) may prescribe. The [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) may adjust the amount of any grant received or renewed under this paragraph to take into account increases or decreases in amounts appropriated for these purposes or such other factors as the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) determines to be appropriate.
  - (2) **Eligibility and preference—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) may not provide assistance under this subchapter to an applicant that is a public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) unless—
    - (A) the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) will use the grants to continue or expand activities eligible for assistance under this subchapter, as in effect immediately before the effective date under [section 503(a)](/usc/42/503.md?p=a) of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, in which case the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) shall provide preference to such applicant; except that preference under this subparagraph shall not preclude selection by the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) of other meritorious applications that address urgent or serious crime problems nor be construed to require continuation of activities determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) to be unworthy of continuation; or
    - (B) the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) is in the class established under [paragraph (3)](#b-3).
  - (3) **PHAs having urgent or serious crime problems—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) shall, by regulations issued after notice and opportunity for public comment, set forth criteria for establishing a class of public housing [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that have urgent or serious crime problems. The [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) may reserve a portion of the amount appropriated to carry out this subchapter in each fiscal year only for grants for public housing [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in such class, except that any amounts from such portion reserved that are not obligated to [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in the class shall be made available only for [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that are subject to a preference under [paragraph (2)(A)](#b-2-A).
  - (4) **Inapplicability to federally assisted low-income housing—** The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to [federally assisted low-income housing](/usc/42/11905.md?p=4).
- (c) **Criteria—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) shall approve applications under [subsection (b)](#b) that are not subject to a preference under [subsection (b)(2)(A)](#b-2-A) on the basis of thresholds or criteria such as—
  - (1) the extent of the [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4)-related or violent crime problem in and around the public or [federally assisted low-income housing](/usc/42/11905.md?p=4) [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) proposed for assistance;
  - (2) the quality of the plan to address the crime problem in the public or [federally assisted low-income housing](/usc/42/11905.md?p=4) [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) proposed for assistance, including the extent to which the plan includes initiatives that can be sustained over a period of several years;
  - (3) the capability of the applicant to carry out the plan; and
  - (4) the extent to which tenants, the local government and the local community support and participate in the design and implementation of the activities proposed to be funded under the application.
- (d) **Federally assisted low-income housing—** In addition to the selection criteria specified in [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) may establish other criteria for the evaluation of applications submitted by [owners](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) of [federally assisted low-income housing](/usc/42/11905.md?p=4), except that such additional criteria shall be designed only to reflect—
  - (1) relevant differences between the financial resources and other characteristics of public housing authorities and [owners](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) of [federally assisted low-income housing](/usc/42/11905.md?p=4), or
  - (2) relevant differences between the problem of [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4)-related or violent crime in public housing and the problem of [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4)-related or violent crime in [federally assisted low-income housing](/usc/42/11905.md?p=4).
- (e) **High intensity drug trafficking areas—** In evaluating the extent of the [drug-related crime](/usc/42/11905.md?p=2) problem pursuant to [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/42/11905.md?p=3) may consider whether housing [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) proposed for assistance are located in a high intensity [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) trafficking area designated pursuant to [section 1504](/usc/42/1504.md)[^3] of title 21.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.
[^2]: So in original.
[^3]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–690, title V, § 5125, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4302; Pub. L. 101–625, title V, § 581(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4246; Pub. L. 102–550, title I, § 161(d)(3), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3719; Pub. L. 104–330, title VII, § 704(3), Oct. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 4051; Pub. L. 105–276, title II, § 220(3), title V, § 586(e), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2488, 2647.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 104–330, Oct. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 4016, which is classified principally to chapter 43 (§ 4101 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4101 of Title 25 and Tables.

Section 503(a) of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), is section 503(a) of Pub. L. 105–276, which is set out as an Effective Date of 1998 Amendment note under section 1437 of this title.

Section 1504 of title 21, referred to in subsec. (e), was repealed by Pub. L. 100–690, title I, § 1009, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4188.

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(1), substituted “recipient of assistance under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996” for “tribally designated housing entity” in first sentence and “or violent crime in and around” for “crime on the premises” in second sentence, and inserted before period at end “, which plan shall be coordinated with and may be included in the public housing agency plan submitted to the Secretary pursuant to section 1437c–1 of this title”.

Pub. L. 105–276, § 220(3), inserted “an Indian tribe” after “resident management corporation,”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(5), (6), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(2)(A), inserted introductory provisions and struck out former introductory provisions which read as follows: “Except as provided by subsections (c) and (d) of this section the Secretary shall approve applications under this subchapter based exclusively on—”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(2)(B), substituted “or violent crime problem in and around” for “crime problem in”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(5), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(3)(A), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsection (b)” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(3)(B), inserted “or violent” after “drug-related” in two places.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(5), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(4), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsection (b)”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–276, § 586(e)(5), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e).

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–330 inserted “a tribally designated housing entity,” after “resident management corporation,”.

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–550 inserted “, a public housing resident management corporation,” after “public housing agency” in first sentence.

1990—Pub. L. 101–625 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions relating generally to applications for grants under this subchapter and to criteria for approval of such applications.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by title V of Pub. L. 105–276 effective and applicable beginning upon Oct. 1, 1999, except as otherwise provided, with provision that Secretary may implement amendment before such date, except to extent that such amendment provides otherwise, and with savings provision, see section 503 of Pub. L. 105–276, set out as a note under section 1437 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–330 effective Oct. 1, 1997, except as otherwise expressly provided, see section 107 of Pub. L. 104–330, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4101 of Title 25, Indians.