PUBLIC LAW 105-276—OCT. 21, 1998 112 STAT. 2617 employment, or preparing for employment by participating in a job training or educational program, or any program that otherwise assists individuals in obtaining employment ' and attaining economic self-sufficiency; "(B) reduce costs of Federal housing assistance and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal housing assistance expenditures; "(C) increase the stock of affordable housing and housing choices for low-income families; "(D) increase homeownership among low-income families; • "(E) reduce geographic concentration of assisted families; "(F) reduce homelessness through providing permanent housing solutions; "(G) improve program management; and ' "(H) achieve such other purposes with respect to lowincome families, as determined by the participating local governments and municipalities in coordination with the public housing agencies;
- %£€. 402. FLEXIBLE GRANT PROGRAM.
42 USC "(a) AUTHORITY AND USE. — The Secretary shall carry out a demonstration program in accordance with the purposes under section 401 and the provisions of this title. A jurisdiction approved by the Secretary for participation in the program may receive and combine and enter into performance-based contracts for the use of amounts of covered housing assistance, in the manner determined appropriate by the participating jurisdiction, during the period of the jurisdiction's participation— "(1) to provide housing assistance and services for lowincome families in a manner that facilitates the transition of such families to work; "(2) to reduce homelessness through providing permanent housing solutions; "(3) to increase homeownership among low-income families; or "(4) for other housing purposes for low-income families determined by the participating jurisdiction. "(b) PERIOD OF PARTICIPATION.— A jurisdiction may participate in the demonstration program under this title for a period consisting of not less than 1 nor more than 5 fiscal years. "(c) PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS.— "(1) IN GENERAL. — Subject to paragraph (2), during the 4-year period consisting of fiscal years 1999 through 2002, the Secretary may approve for participation in the program under this title not more than an aggregate of 100 jurisdictions over the entire term of the demonstration program. A jurisdiction that was approved for participation in the demonstration program under this title in a fiscal year and that is continuing such participation in any subsequent fiscal year shall count as a single jurisdiction for purposes of the numerical limitation under this paragraph. "(2) EXCLUSION OF HIGH PERFORMING AGENCIES.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this title other than paragraph
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