---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1437aaa–3"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1437aaa–3"
heading: "Homeownership program requirements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1437aaa-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 8 — Low-Income Housing"
  - "Subchapter II–A — Hope for Public Housing Homeownership"
---

# §1437aaa–3. Homeownership program requirements

- (a) **In general—** A [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) under this subchapter shall provide for acquisition by [eligible families](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2) of ownership interests in, or shares representing, at least one-half of the units in a public housing [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under any arrangement determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) to be appropriate, such as cooperative ownership (including limited equity cooperative ownership) and fee simple ownership (including condominium ownership), for occupancy by the [eligible families](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2).
- (b) **Affordability—** A [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) under this subchapter shall provide for the establishment of sales prices (including principal, insurance, taxes, and interest and closing costs) for initial acquisition of the property from the public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) if the [applicant](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=1) is not a public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and for sales to [eligible families](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2), such that an [eligible family](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2) shall not be required to expend more than 30 percent of the adjusted income of the family per month to complete a sale under the [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3).
- (c) **Plan—** A [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) under this subchapter shall provide, and include a plan, for—
  - (1) identifying and selecting [eligible families](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2) to participate in the [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3);
  - (2) providing relocation assistance to families who elect to move;
  - (3) ensuring continued affordability by tenants, homebuyers, and homeowners in the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
  - (4) providing ongoing training and counseling for homebuyers and homeowners; and
  - (5) replacing units in eligible [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) covered by a [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3).
- (d) **Acquisition and rehabilitation limitations—** Acquisition or rehabilitation of public housing [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under a [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) under this subchapter may not consist of acquisition or rehabilitation of less than the whole public housing [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) in a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) consisting of more than 1 building. The provisions of this subsection may be waived upon a finding by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) that the sale of less than all the buildings in a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) is feasible and will not result in a hardship to any tenants of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) who are not included in the [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3).
- (e) **Financing—**
  - (1) **In general—** The application shall identify and describe the proposed financing for (A) any rehabilitation, and (B) acquisition (i) of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), where applicable, by an entity other than the public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) for transfer to [eligible families](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2), and (ii) by [eligible families](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2) of ownership interests in, or shares representing, units in the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2). Financing may include use of the implementation grant, sale for cash, or other sources of financing (subject to applicable requirements), including conventional mortgage loans and mortgage loans insured under title II of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1707](/usc/12/1707.md) et seq.].
  - (2) **Prohibition against pledges—** Property transferred under this subchapter shall not be pledged as collateral for debt or otherwise encumbered except when the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) determines that—
    - (A) such encumbrance will not threaten the long-term availability of the property for occupancy by low-income families;
    - (B) neither the Federal Government nor the public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) will be exposed to undue risks related to action that may have to be taken pursuant to [paragraph (3)](#e-3);
    - (C) any debt obligation can be serviced from [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) income, including operating assistance; and
    - (D) the proceeds of such encumbrance will be used only to meet housing standards in accordance with [subsection (f)](#f) or to make such additional capital improvements as the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) determines to be consistent with the purposes of this subchapter.
  - (3) **Opportunity to cure—** Any lender that provides financing in connection with a [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) under this subchapter shall give the public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), resident management [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), individual [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4), or other appropriate entity a reasonable opportunity to cure a financial default before foreclosing on the property, or taking other action as a result of the default.
- (f) **Housing quality standards—** The application shall include a plan ensuring that the unit—
  - (1) will be free from any defects that pose a danger to health or safety before transfer of an ownership interest in, or shares representing, a unit to an [eligible family](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2); and
  - (2) will, not later than 2 years after the transfer to an [eligible family](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=2), meet minimum housing standards established by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) for the purposes of this subchapter.
- (g) **Repealed. Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 531(b)(1), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2573—**
- (h) **Protection of non-purchasing families—**
  - (1) **In general—** No tenant residing in a dwelling unit in a public housing [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) on the date the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) approves an application for an implementation grant may be evicted by reason of a [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3) approved under this subchapter.
  - (2) **Replacement assistance—** If the tenant decides not to purchase a unit, or is not qualified to do so, the [recipient](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=4) shall, during the term of any operating assistance under the implementation grant, permit each otherwise qualified tenant to continue to reside in the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) at rents that do not exceed levels consistent with [section 1437a(a) of this title](/usc/42/1437a.md?p=a) or, if an otherwise qualified tenant chooses to move (at any time during the term of such operating assistance contract), the public housing [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall, to the extent approved in appropriations Acts, offer such tenant (A) a unit in another public housing [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), or (B) section 8 [[42 U.S.C. 1437f](/usc/42/1437f.md)] assistance for use in other housing.
  - (3) **Relocation assistance—** The [recipient](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=4) shall also inform each such tenant that if the tenant chooses to move, the [recipient](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=4) will pay relocation assistance in accordance with the approved [homeownership program](/usc/42/1437aaa–5.md?p=3).
  - (4) **Other rights—** Tenants renting a unit in a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) transferred under this subchapter shall have all rights provided to tenants of public housing under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, title III, § 304, as added Pub. L. 101–625, title IV, § 411, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4153; amended Pub. L. 102–550, title I, § 181(g)(1)(A), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3736; Pub. L. 104–19, title I, § 1002(b), July 27, 1995, 109 Stat. 236; Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 531(b)(1), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2573.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Housing Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), is act June 27, 1934, ch. 847, 48 Stat. 1246. Title II of the Act is classified principally to subchapter II (§ 1707 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1701 of Title 12 and Tables.

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(3), was in the original “this subtitle”, and was translated as reading “this title”, meaning title III of act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, as added by Pub. L. 101–625, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because title III of act Sept. 1, 1937, does not contain subtitles.

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–276 struck out subsec. (g) which prohibited transfer of projects without plan for replacement housing. See 1995 Amendment note below.

1995—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–19 struck out subsec. (g) which prohibited transfer of projects without plan for replacement housing.

1992—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–550 struck out “(not including scattered site single family housing of a public housing agency)” after “housing project”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by section 531(b)(1) of Pub. L. 105–276 effective with respect to any plan for the demolition, disposition, or conversion to homeownership of public housing that is approved by Secretary after Sept. 30, 1995, see section 531(b)(2) of Pub. L. 105–276, set out as a note below.

### Effective Date of 1995 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–19 effective for applications for demolition, disposition, or conversion to homeownership of public housing approved by the Secretary, and other consolidation and relocation activities of public housing agencies undertaken on, before, or after Sept. 30, 1995, and on or before Sept. 30, 1998, see section 1002(d) of Pub. L. 104–19, as amended, set out as a note under section 1437c of this title.

### Homeownership Replacement Plan

Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 531(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2573, provided that: In general.—Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c) of section 1002 of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred At Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act, 1995 [amending this section and enacting provision set out as a note under section 1437c of this title] (Public Law 104–19; 109 Stat. 236), subsection (g) of section 304 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437aaa–3(g)) is repealed. Effective date.—The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall be effective with respect to any plan for the demolition, disposition, or conversion to homeownership of public housing that is approved by the Secretary after September 30, 1995.”