Federal Surplus Real Property -
Pursuant to Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, state and local governments, as well as non-profit organizations, are eligible to apply for land and buildings that have been determined to be “suitable and available.” Properties may be used for a wide variety of programs and services for the homeless, including, but not limited to, emergency shelters, transitional programs (with occupancy limited to 24 months), food banks, job training, storage facilities, or administrative use.
GSA has developed a web page to assist providers of homeless services find surplus federal properties that may be suited for their needs. The web site includes FAQs, lists of current available properties, a link to sign up for regular emails with updates, and information on the processes developed by HUD and HHS to obtain properties for homeless programs and services.
With thousands of properties in the federal portfolio, disposing of underused federal real property is a considerable task. GSA—while working together with partner federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, business groups, and citizens—leaves a lasting positive impact on communities by making valuable government real estate available for numerous public purposes.
Unneeded or underutilized federal property can vary widely in type and value, and may include
- Undeveloped land;
- Office buildings;
- Warehouses;
- Commercial and industrial facilities;
- Military holdings; and
- Single- and multi-family residences.
These former federal properties can contribute to a community’s vitality by providing benefits such as
- Expanded employment opportunities;
- Housing and other uses for the homeless; and
- Establishment of educational centers, parks, and open spaces.
Property may be located in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories.
The GSA Public Buildings Service, Office of Real Property Utilization and Disposal partners with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to manage the surplus real property homeless assistance program for properties in GSA’s disposal inventory.
