---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12892"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12892"
heading: "Planning grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12892"
units:
  - "Chapter 130 — National Affordable Housing"
  - "Subchapter IV — Hope for Homeownership of Multifamily and Single Family Homes"
  - "Part B — HOPE for Homeownership of Single Family Homes"
---

# §12892. Planning grants

- (a) **Grants—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16) is authorized to make planning grants to [applicants](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1) for the purpose of developing [homeownership programs](/usc/42/12876.md?p=4) under this part. The amount of a planning grant under this section may not exceed $200,000, except that the [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16) may for good cause approve a grant in a higher amount.
- (b) **Eligible activities—** Planning grants may be used for activities to develop [homeownership programs](/usc/42/12876.md?p=4) (which may include programs for cooperative ownership), including—
  - (1) identifying [eligible properties](/usc/42/12876.md?p=3);
  - (2) training and technical assistance of [applicants](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1) related to the development of a specific [homeownership program](/usc/42/12876.md?p=4);
  - (3) studies of the feasibility of specific [homeownership programs](/usc/42/12876.md?p=4);
  - (4) inspection for lead-based paint hazards, as required by [section 4822(a) of this title](/usc/42/4822.md?p=a);
  - (5) preliminary architectural and engineering work;
  - (6) homebuyer counseling and training;
  - (7) planning for economic development, job training, and self-sufficiency activities that promote economic self-sufficiency for homebuyers and homeowners under the [homeownership program](/usc/42/12876.md?p=4);
  - (8) development of [security](/usc/42/12704.md?p=12) plans; and
  - (9) preparation of an application for an implementation grant under this part.
- (c) **Application—**
  - (1) **Form and procedures—** An application for a planning grant shall be submitted by an [applicant](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1) in such form and in accordance with such procedures as the [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16) shall establish.
  - (2) **Minimum requirements—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16) shall require that an application contain at a minimum—
    - (A) a request for a planning grant, specifying the activities proposed to be carried out, the schedule for completing the activities, the personnel necessary to complete the activities, and the amount of the grant requested;
    - (B) a description of the [applicant](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1) and a statement of its qualifications;
    - (C) identification and description of the [eligible properties](/usc/42/12876.md?p=3) likely to be involved, and a description of the composition of the potential homebuyers and residents of the areas in which such [eligible properties](/usc/42/12876.md?p=3) are located, including family size and income;
    - (D) a [certification](/usc/42/12704.md?p=21) by the public official responsible for submitting the comprehensive [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8) affordability strategy under [section 12705 of this title](/usc/42/12705.md) that the proposed activities are consistent with the approved [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8) strategy of the [State](/usc/42/12704.md?p=2) or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/12704.md?p=1) within which the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) is located (or, during the first 12 months after November 28, 1990, that the application is consistent with such other existing [State](/usc/42/12704.md?p=2) or local [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8) plan or strategy that the [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16) shall determine to be appropriate); and
    - (E) a [certification](/usc/42/12704.md?p=21) that the [applicant](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1) will comply with the requirements of the Fair Housing Act [[42 U.S.C. 3601](/usc/42/3601.md) et seq.], title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [[42 U.S.C. 2000d](/usc/42/2000d.md) et seq.], section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [[29 U.S.C. 794](/usc/29/794.md)], and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 [[42 U.S.C. 6101](/usc/42/6101.md) et seq.], and will affirmatively further fair [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8).
- (d) **Selection criteria—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16) shall, by regulation, establish selection criteria for a national competition for assistance under this section, which shall include—
  - (1) the qualifications or potential capabilities of the [applicant](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1);
  - (2) the extent of interest in the development of a [homeownership program](/usc/42/12876.md?p=4);
  - (3) the potential of the [applicant](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1) for developing a successful and affordable [homeownership program](/usc/42/12876.md?p=4) and the availability and suitability of [eligible properties](/usc/42/12876.md?p=3) in the applicable geographic area with respect to the application;
  - (4) national geographic diversity among [housing](/usc/42/12704.md?p=8) for which [applicants](/usc/42/12876.md?p=1) are selected to receive assistance; and
  - (5) such other factors that the [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16) shall require that (in the determination of the [Secretary](/usc/42/12704.md?p=16)) are appropriate for purposes of carrying out the program established by this part in an effective and efficient manner.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–625, title IV, § 442, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4172; Pub. L. 102–550, title X, § 1012(j)(1), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3906.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Fair Housing Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(E), is title VIII of Pub. L. 90–284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 81, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 3601 et seq.) of chapter 45 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(E), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables.

The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(E), is title III of Pub. L. 94–135, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 728, which is classified generally to chapter 76 (§ 6101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6101 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

1992—Subsec. (b)(4) to (9). Pub. L. 102–550 added par. (4) and redesignated former pars. (4) to (8) as (5) to (9), respectively.