---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12703"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12703"
heading: "Purposes of Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12703"
units:
  - "Chapter 130 — National Affordable Housing"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions and Policies"
---

# §12703. Purposes of Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act


The purposes of this Act are—

- (1) to help [families](/usc/42/12704.md?p=11) not owning a home to save for a down payment for the purchase of a home;
- (2) to retain wherever feasible as [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8) affordable to [low-income families](/usc/42/12704.md?p=10) those dwelling units produced for such purpose with Federal assistance;
- (3) to extend and strengthen partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector, including for-profit and [nonprofit organizations](/usc/42/12704.md?p=5), in the production and operation of [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8) affordable to low-income and moderate-income [families](/usc/42/12704.md?p=11);
- (4) to expand and improve Federal rental assistance for [very low-income families](/usc/42/12704.md?p=9); and
- (5) to increase the supply of supportive [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8), which combines structural features and services needed to enable persons with special needs to live with dignity and [independence](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=1-B).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–625, title I, § 103, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4085.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 101–625, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4079, known as the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12701 of this title and Tables.