The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is dedicating $12 million to expand affordable housing opportunities through the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP). This funding will help organizations purchase land, build homes, and improve infrastructure, making homeownership more accessible to low-income families in urban and rural areas. The initiative aims to reduce housing costs and provide support for underserved communities, with a focus on environmental justice and climate change efforts.