Housing Affordability Planning Program funds eight new housing projects near transit hubs

At its monthly meeting yesterday, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors approved $500,000 in grants to support eight local planning initiatives and development projects which address the need for more housing near transit areas, affordable to those with lower incomes.

The grants were awarded through the Housing Affordability Planning Program (HAPP), financially supported through the Amazon Housing Fund. HAPP awards small, flexible grants up to $75,000 to area local governments or non-profit housing developers engaged in the planning, approval, or development of housing near transit stations.

The winning proposals address diverse housing needs across the region. Four projects will create or redevelop nearly 400 rental units with long-term affordability, while four will support local government actions to expand housing opportunities through policy and zoning updates.

In 2019, the COG Board adopted three regional housing targets calling for at least 75,000 additional housing units by 2030 beyond the 245,000 new units already anticipated, at least 75 percent of the units in Activity Centers or High-Capacity Transit Station Areas (HCTs), and at least 75 percent of the units affordable to low-and-middle income households.

A selection panel of housing experts reviewed and scored the applications for the grant funding.

MORE: Presentation to the COG Board on 2025 HAPP grant awardees