local housing assistance plans; allocation of housing funds

local housing assistance plans; allocation of housing funds Sec. 213. (a)(1) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, upon receiving an application for housing assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937, section 235 or 236 of the National Housing Act, section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, or section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, if the unit of general local government in which the proposed assistance is to be provided has an approved housing assistance plan, shall— (A) not later than ten days after receipt of the application, notify the chief executive officer of such unit of general local government that such application is under consideration; and (B) afford such unit of general local government the opportunity, during the thirty-day period beginning on the date of such notification, to object to the approval of the application on the grounds that the application is inconsistent with its housing assistance plan. (2) If the unit of general local government objects to the application on the grounds that it is inconsistent with its housing assistance plan, the Secretary may not approve the application unless he determines that the application is consistent with such housing assistance plan. If the Secretary determines, that such application is consistent with the housing assistance plan, he shall notify the chief executive officer of the unit of general local government of his determination and the reasons therefor in writing. If the Secretary concurs with the objection of the unit of local government, he shall notify the applicant stating the reasons therefor in writing. 88 Stat. 675 (3) If the Secretary does not receive an objection by the close of the period referred to in paragraph (1)(B), he may approve the application unless he finds it inconsistent with the housing assistance plan. If the Secretary determines that an application is inconsistent with a housing assistance plan, he shall notify the applicant stating the reasons therefor in writing. (4) The Secretary shall make the determinations referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) within thirty days after he receives an objection pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) or within thirty days after the close of the period referred to in paragraph (1)(B), whichever is earlier. (5) As used in this section, the term “housing assistance plan” means a housing assistance plan submitted and approved under section 104 of this Act or, in the case of a unit of general local government not participating under title I of this Act, a housing plan approved by the Secretary as meeting the requirements of this section. (b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to— (1) applications for assistance involving 12 or fewer units in a single project or development; (2) applications for assistance with respect to housing in new community developments approved under title IV of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 or title VII of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 which the Secretary determines are necessary to meet the housing requirements under such title; or (3) applications for assistance with respect to housing financed by loans or loan guarantees from a State or agency thereof, except that the provisions of subsection (a) shall apply where the unit of general local government in which the assistance is to be provided objects in its housing assistance plan to the exemption provided by this paragraph. (c) For areas in which an approved local housing assistance plan is not applicable, the Secretary shall not approve an application for housing assistance unless he determines that there is a need for such assistance, taking into consideration any applicable State housing plans, and that there is or will be available in the area public facilities and services adequate to serve the housing proposed to be assisted. The Secretary shall afford the unit of general local government in which the assistance is to be provided an opportunity, during a 30-day period following receipt of an application by him, to provide comments or information relevant to the determination required to be made by the Secretary under this subsection. (d)(1) In allocating financial assistance under the provisions of law specified in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary, so far as practicable, shall consider the relative needs of different areas and communities as reflected in data as to population, poverty, housing overcrowding, housing vacancies, amount of substandard housing, or other objectively measurable conditions, subject to such adjustments as may be necessary to assist in carrying out activities designed to meet lower income housing needs as described in approved housing assistance plans submitted by units of general local government or combinations of such units assisted under section 107(a)(2) of this Act. The amount of assistance allocated to nonmetropolitan areas pursuant to this section in any fiscal year shall not be less than 20 nor more than 25 per centum of the total amount of such assistance. (2) In order to facilitate the provision of, and long-range planning for, housing for persons of low- and moderate-income in new community developments approved under title IV of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 and title VII of the Housing and Urban 88 Stat. 676 Development Act of 1970, the Secretary shall reserve such housing assistance funds as he deems necessary for use in connection with such new community developments. (3) The Secretary may reserve such housing assistance funds as he deems appropriate for use by a State or agency thereof.