H.R. 5651: Affordability and Fairness for Mountain Communities Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Affordability and Fairness for Mountain Communities Act of 2025, aims to make housing more affordable in mountain communities by establishing a new program for calculating area median incomes (AMI). Here are the main components of the bill:

1. Establishment of a Waiver Program

The bill mandates the creation of a program called the Area Median Income Localization Waiver within 90 days of its enactment. This program allows local county governments to use specific geographic areas, either a ZIP Code or a group of neighboring counties, to calculate the AMI for certain housing programs, instead of using broader statistical areas.

2. Application and Granting of Waivers

Counties can apply to participate in the waiver program, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is required to grant waivers to those applications. Once a waiver is granted, the county can use the specified geographical data for AMI calculations in multiple housing assistance programs.

3. Covered Programs

The waiver program applies to a variety of housing assistance programs, including:

• The public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937.
• Section 8 rental assistance program.
• HOME Investment Partnerships program.
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs.
• Housing Trust Fund program.
• Programs for supportive housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
• Other housing assistance programs for rural and Native American communities.

4. Study on Housing Affordability

The bill requires the Secretary to conduct a study assessing various methods for improving the affordability of housing in mountain communities. The study should:

• Identify alternative ways to calculate AMI.
• Evaluate how different living arrangements, such as roommates, might affect housing assistance calculations for seasonal workers.

5. Reporting Findings

Within two years, the Secretary must submit a report detailing the findings of the study. This report will include:

• A summary of significant findings.
• Recommendations for improving the use of AMI in housing programs.
• An analysis of the affordable housing crisis in mountain communities.
• The impact of high housing cost adjustments on income limits and rent prices.
• Suggestions for using existing authorities to enhance housing affordability for low-income and seasonal workers.

6. Definitions

The bill includes specific definitions for terms such as “area median income,” “high housing cost adjustment,” and “mountain communities,” clarifying the scope and intent of the legislation.

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