S. 2808Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

TOOLS to Rehabilitate Communities Act

Introduced May 9, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:35 PM UTC

The TOOLS to Rehabilitate Communities Act expands the use of community development block grants so they can support partnerships with nonprofit groups that supply tools, equipment, or other resources to organizations carrying out neighborhood revitalization projects. It directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inform grant applicants about this new option and to study how federal, state, and local governments can work with such nonprofits.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the Housing and Community Development Act to add a new category that allows grant‑making partnerships with nonprofit organizations that provide tools, equipment, or other resources for community development, revitalization, or rehabilitation projects.
  • Requires HUD each fiscal year to notify grant applicants and awardees that block grant funds may be used to create or strengthen these nonprofit partnerships.
  • Mandates HUD to issue a report within the first fiscal year after enactment identifying existing opportunities and barriers for government‑nonprofit collaborations on community development projects.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

May 9, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 9, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

May 9, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 9, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2808

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 9, 2018

Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Warner) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To authorize community development block grants for providing tools, equipment, and other resources.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Tools On Our Local Streets to Rehabilitate Communities Act or the TOOLS to Rehabilitate Communities Act.

2.

Strengthening community development partnerships with nonprofit organizations

Section 105(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (25)(D), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (26), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(27)

creating or strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations that provide tools, equipment, or other resources to other nonprofit or volunteer organizations assisting in the completion of a community development, revitalization, or rehabilitation project authorized under this subsection.

.

3.

Increasing awareness

For each fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall provide notice to grant applicants and awardees under section 103 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5303) that awards provided under title I of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) may be used to create or strengthen partnerships with nonprofit organizations that provide tools, equipment, or other resources to other nonprofit or volunteer organizations that assist in the completion of a community development, revitalization, or rehabilitation project authorized under such section 103.

4.

Identifying opportunities to increase access to community development partnerships with non-profit organization

Not later than the end of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue a report discussing—

(1)

opportunities in existence as of the date of the report for Federal, State, and local governments to partner with nonprofit organizations to complete community development, revitalization, and rehabilitation projects under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); and

(2)

existing barriers and challenges with respect to those projects.