WASHINGTON, D.C, – Last Thursday, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the Revitalizing Empty Structures Into Desirable Environments Act with SenatorMark Warner (D-Va.). This bill would set aside funding within the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) starting in 2026 for a new pilot program to help communities turn abandoned or run-down buildings—like warehouses, factories, hotels, strip malls, and other unused spaces—into new housing.
This effort will support both single-family and multi-family homes.
This bill includes no new spending.
Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “Owning a home is such a big part of the American dream. But with prices so high, especially for young people, we have to get serious about building more homes. This bill is a commonsense way to revitalize our communities and give more families a real chance to buy a home.”
Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.): “Across the country, communities are grappling with twin challenges: a shortage of affordable housing and a surplus of vacant, underutilized buildings. The RESIDE Act is a commonsense solution that empowers local governments to tackle both. By giving communities the tools to repurpose abandoned structures into homes for working families, we can boost housing supply, strengthen neighborhoods, and make the dream of an affordable, safe place to live a reality for more Americans. I’m proud to work on this bipartisan initiative to help turn blight into opportunity.”
Mayor of Terre Haute, Brandon Sakbun: “The RESIDE Act is a unique opportunity to redevelop and reimagine blighted properties. The city of Terre Haute is looking forward to working with the federal government to put these funds to use in the great state of Indiana.”
Mayor of Noblesville, Chris Jensen: “Hoosiers sent Senator Banks to DC to produce results for our communities. The RESIDE Act, introduced by Senator Banks, would put measures in place to revitalize blighted properties and spur economic growth and opportunities. This bill will have lasting benefits for the Hoosier state and local communities that receive the grant dollars to redevelop blighted properties. Local communities often look for ways to reinvest in existing infrastructure, and this bill does that.”
Mayor of Bloomington, Kerry Thomson: “As communities work against several barriers to provide housing for residents, creative approaches to housing are welcome. We commend Senator Banks for creating legislation to support the use of HOME dollars to address the nation’s need for housing that works.”
Mayor of Fort Wayne, Sharon Tucker: “There is no one size fits all way to address affordable housing. We need to rehab, repurpose, and build our way out. Federal funds that make the American Dream possible are always appreciated in Fort Wayne. Thank you to Senator Jim Banks for helping to make HOME funds available and supporting pilot programs like this.”
Mayor of Hammond, Thomas McDermott: “As Mayor of Hammond, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that abandoned malls, factories, and warehouses pose to our neighborhoods — draining local resources and holding back economic growth. The RESIDE Act is the kind of smart, budget-conscious investment we need. By using existing HOME funds to turn blighted structures into affordable, workforce housing, this program will provide new opportunities for families across Indiana. Revitalizing Hammond is key to improving our community, rebuilding our tax base, and giving working people a chance to live where they work. I support the RESIDE Act and urge Congress to make this program a reality.”
Mayor of Jasper, Dean Vonderheide: “As a mayor working every day to revitalize our community, I strongly support the RESIDE Act. This innovative, bipartisan legislation gives us the tools to turn long-abandoned structures into vibrant housing solutions for working families. By targeting blight and offering flexible, stackable funding, RESIDE promotes economic growth, safety, and housing stability — without burdening taxpayers. It’s exactly the kind of smart investment small towns need.”
Mayor of Kokomo, Tyler Moore: “As mayor of Kokomo, I support efforts to give the HUD Secretary discretion to direct more HOME funds toward the rehabilitation of existing buildings. Communities like ours face urgent housing needs at all income levels, and this flexibility would help us bring more quality housing online—especially for families earning below the median income.”
Mayor of LaPorte, Tom Dermody: “Like many states across the nation, Indiana is in the midst of a housing crisis. Simultaneously, abandoned warehouses and malls in cities everywhere sit empty and await condemnation. This measure offers a potential solution to both problems and is exactly the kind of forward-thinking we need from our lawmakers in Washington.”
Mayor of Valparaiso, Jon Costas: “Transforming blighted properties into sustainable living spaces is critical to infuse new life in communities and invite further investment from the private sector. Senator Banks’ RESIDE Act is an effective tool to accomplish that goal in areas that need it the most.”
Mayor of Vincennes, Joe Yochum: “Any program that would assist in taking blighted or less desirable properties and turning them into workforce housing would be beneficial to all communities as we are all dealing with the lack of quality housing.”
Mayor of Madison, Bob Courtney: “The RESIDE Act is a smart, strategic investment that gives communities like Madison, Indiana, the tools we need to transform long-abandoned properties into vibrant housing opportunities. It is a common-sense solution that supports local redevelopment, strengthens our neighborhoods, grows our tax base, and creates real pathways to homeownership. This locally-driven, flexible solution is exactly what our communities need, and I am proud to support it.”
Mayor of Marion, Ronald Morrell: “Cities across Indiana have been plagued with blight from abandoned malls and factories, Marion included. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program has the potential to resurrect the whole state of Indiana. This is vital for future Hoosiers and the growth of our state.”
Mayor of New Haven, Steve McMichael: “As a retired real estate professional and the Mayor of New Haven, I am proud to voice my strong support for Senator Banks’ leadership on the RESIDE Act. This forward-thinking, budget-neutral pilot program represents a smart investment in the future of our communities. By transforming abandoned malls, warehouses, and other blighted properties into affordable housing, the RESIDE Act addresses two critical needs: revitalizing underutilized spaces and expanding access to workforce housing. Its emphasis on local matching funds ensures that Hoosier communities have a direct stake in the success of these projects, empowering municipalities to tailor solutions to their unique needs. Repurposing these commercial properties also conserves infrastructure investment dollars, as many sites are already served by roads and utilities—making this a smart and efficient use of existing community assets. This legislation will help cities strengthen neighborhoods, promote homeownership, and grow our local tax base—all while preserving fiscal responsibility. I commend Senator Banks for championing this initiative and urge Congress to move swiftly in passing the RESIDE Act.”
Mayor of Rushville, Mike Pavey: “I support the adoption of the RESIDE Act. This will be another tool for rural communities to tackle the growing housing challenges, especially for our aging population. I’m especially excited to see potential funding for housing focused on our veterans and disabled citizens while remediating blighted areas of Rushville.”
Mayor of Tipton, Kegan Schmicker: “As Mayor of Tipton, I strongly support this commonsense pilot program that empowers communities like ours to transform abandoned properties into workforce housing. This addresses two critical needs: removing blight while creating attainable homes for the nurses, teachers, police officers, and firefighters who are the backbone of our community. It’s exactly the kind of flexible federal partnership that works — building on proven programs while empowering local decision-making.”
Mayor of Shelbyville, Scott Furgeson: “I believe that the RESIDE Act is another tool that communities can use to help combat shrinking budgets and inflation. The City of Shelbyville has the same problem as many larger cities and vacant spaces create a blight for our communities. I applaud Senator Banks for this initiative and forward thinking.”
Mayor of Greensburg, Joshua Marsh: “This program is a commonsense solution that transforms underutilized properties into vital community assets. It will directly address the critical need for workforce housing in our rural towns and open the door to homeownership for our veterans and disabled neighbors. I appreciate Senator Banks researching this issue.”
Mayor of Connersville, Chad Frank: “The City of Connersville would like to express our support for the proposed blight elimination program. Our city was once a highly dense area for manufacturing, but as global competition and inflation increased, the larger manufacturing companies left the area. This caused a rise in vacant buildings, unemployment rates, and an overall increase in poverty levels among our population. Connersville has, through much effort, slowly regained industrial jobs and seen other service-oriented jobs increase within our community. Just as we can see the turnaround taking place in our city, we can also see the need for our community to eliminate dilapidated, abandoned houses and buildings to make room for growth. As the mayor of Connersville, I am also deeply concerned about eliminating the threats to public safety and health that these older structures pose, such as structural weakness, mold, lead paint, asbestos, and bird droppings. An abandoned building can also lead to vandalism and crime in that area. With the financial challenges all of us are facing right now, the City of Connersville would greatly appreciate and support any programs that would provide us with financial aid as we strive to improve the economy and well-being of our community.”
Mayor of Portage, Austin Bonta: “The RESIDE Act promises to be a breath of fresh air for cities and towns across America with a proud industrial heritage. As the land that was for a time called the ‘Rust Belt’ has transformed in our county’s ‘Opportunity Belt,’ this program creates an important tool for bringing necessary housing to enhance the rejuvenation of our manufacturing base.”
Key Provisions of the Revitalizing Empty Structures Into Desirable Environments Act.
· Creates a 4 Year Pilot Program: Using HOME formula funds to redevelop deteriorated property.
· Establishes a Funding Range: Communities can compete for grants between$1 million and $10 million.
· Adds Supplemental Support: These grants are inaddition to existing HOME formula funding.
· Ensures Funds Are Still Available: Based on current funding levels, up to $100 million could be available nationwide each year for this effort.
· Determines Who Can Apply: Only cities, counties, and states already part of the HOME program can apply.
· Includes Eligible Costs: Such as buying abandoned buildings at market price, site clean-up and preparation, weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades, major repairs like plumbing, HVAC, and sewer, construction needed to create affordable homes.
Full bill text can be found here.
Background:
Indiana has 14 “participating jurisdictions” (including the state itself) that receive federal HOME funding for housing. Some examples of vacant or abandoned properties in the state including:
· Gary: An estimated 13,000 abandoned buildings
· Indianapolis: Over 1,800 vacant properties
· Muncie: A local blogger highlighted the demolition of Muncie Mall—this site could be a candidate for redevelopment under the new pilot program.
This bill would ensure that communities such as the ones listed above receive the funding needed to redevelop these spaces into livable and workable places that benefit families across Indiana.