---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1437aaa–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1437aaa–1"
heading: "Planning grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1437aaa-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 8 — Low-Income Housing"
  - "Subchapter II–A — Hope for Public Housing Homeownership"
---

# §1437aaa–1. Planning grants

- (a) **Grants—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) is authorized to make planning grants to [applicants](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1) for the purpose of developing [homeownership programs](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) under this subchapter. The amount of a planning grant under this section may not exceed $200,000, except that the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) 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/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) (which may include programs for cooperative ownership), including—
  - (1) development of resident management [corporations](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) and [resident councils](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=5);
  - (2) training and technical assistance for [applicants](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1) related to development of a specific [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3);
  - (3) studies of the feasibility of a [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3);
  - (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) tenant and homebuyer counseling and training;
  - (7) planning for economic development, job training, and self-sufficiency activities that promote economic self-sufficiency of homebuyers and homeowners under the [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3);
  - (8) development of security plans; and
  - (9) preparation of an application for an implementation grant under this subchapter.
- (c) **Application—**
  - (1) **Form and procedures—** An application for a planning grant shall be submitted by an [applicant](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1) in such form and in accordance with such procedures as the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall establish.
  - (2) **Minimum requirements—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) 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/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1) and a statement of its qualifications;
    - (C) identification and description of the public housing [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) involved, and a description of the composition of the tenants, including family size and income;
    - (D) a certification by the public official responsible for submitting the comprehensive housing affordability strategy under [section 12705 of this title](/usc/42/12705.md) that the proposed activities are consistent with the approved housing strategy of the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12) 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/42/2021b.md?p=14) or local housing plan or strategy that the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall determine to be appropriate); and
    - (E) a certification that the [applicant](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.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 794 of title 29](/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.
- (d) **Selection criteria—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) 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/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1);
  - (2) the extent of tenant interest in the development of a [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) for the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
  - (3) the potential of the [applicant](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1) for developing a successful and affordable [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) and the suitability of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for homeownership;
  - (4) national geographic diversity among [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for which [applicants](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1) are selected to receive assistance; and
  - (5) such other factors that the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall require that (in the determination of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)) are appropriate for purposes of carrying out the program established by this subchapter in an effective and efficient manner.

## Source credit

(Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 101–625, title IV, § 411, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4149; amended Pub. L. 102–550, title X, § 1012(h)(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.