urban homesteading

urban homesteading Sec. 810. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) is authorized to transfer without payment to a unit of general local government or a State, or a public agency designated by a unit of general local government or a State, any real property— (1) which is improved by a one- to four-family residence; (2) to which the Secretary holds title; (3) which is not occupied; (4) which is requested by such unit, State, or agency for use in an urban homestead program; and (5) which the Secretary determines is suitable for use in an urban homestead program which meets the requirements of subsection (b). In determining the suitability of such property for use in an urban homestead program, the Secretary shall consider— (A) the difficulties and delays which would be involved in the sale of the property; (B) the value of any repairs and improvements required by the program; (C) the benefits to the community and the reduced administrative costs to the Federal Government which would accrue from the expedited occupancy of the unoccupied property; and (D) the possible financial loss to the Federal Government which may result from the transfer of the property without payment. (b) For the purposes of subsections (a) and (c), the Secretary shall approve an urban homestead program carried out by a unit of general local government or a State or a public agency designated by a unit of general local government or a State, which provides for— (1) the conditional conveyance of unoccupied residential property by the responsible administrative entity to an individual or a family without any substantial consideration; (2) an equitable procedure for selecting the recipients of the unoccupied residential property, giving special consideration to the recipients’ need for housing and capacity to make or cause to be made the repairs and improvements required under paragraph (3)(C) of this subsection; (3) an agreement whereby the individual or family to whom such property is conveyed agrees to— (A) occupy such property as a principal residence for a period of not less than three years; (B) make repairs required to meet minimum health and safety standards for occupancy prior to occupying the property; (C) make such repairs and improvements to the property as may be necessary to meet applicable local standards for decent, safe, and sanitary housing within eighteen months after occupying the property; and (D) permit reasonable periodic inspections at reasonable times by employees of the unit of general local government or State or the public agency designated by the unit of general local government or State for the purpose of determining compliance with the agreement; (4) the revocation of such conveyance upon any material breach of the agreement referred to in paragraph (3); 88 Stat. 735 (5) the conveyance from the unit of general local government or State or the public agency designated by the unit of general local government or State of fee simple title to such property without consideration upon compliance with the agreement; and (6) a coordinated approach toward neighborhood improvement through the homestead program and the upgrading of community services and facilities. The Secretary may approve such other programs as he determines to reasonably fulfill these criteria. (c) The Secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with units of general local government or States or public agencies designated by units of general local government or State to provide technical assistance for the administration of urban homestead programs which meet the requirements of subsection (b) and to individuals and families who are participants in such programs. (d) The Secretary is authorized to issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out his functions under this section. (e) The Secretary shall conduct a continuing evaluation of programs carried out pursuant to this section and, beginning with the third year commencing after the date of enactment of this section, shall transmit to the Congress an annual report containing a summary of his evaluation of such programs and his recommendations for future conduct of such programs. (f) In order to facilitate planning for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall, upon request of a unit of general local government or a State or a public agency designated by a unit of general local government or a State, provide a listing of all unoccupied one- to four-family residences to which the Secretary holds title and which are located within the geographic jurisdiction of such unit, State, or agency. (g) To reimburse the housing loan funds for properties transferred pursuant to this section, and to carry out the provisions of subsection (c), there are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $5,000,000 for the fiscal year 1975, and not to exceed $5,000,000 for the fiscal year 1976. Any amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended.