Important Indian Housing News

 

GLIHA MEETING

A GLIHA meeting was held on November 19-20, 2024 at the Seven Winds Casino Conference Center in Hayward, Wisconsin. PowerPoints from the meetings can be found under the Training Materials tab.

New Guidance on Applicability of Build America Buy America Act (BABA) Requirements to Housing Projects

The OMB Made in America Office has provided additional guidance to Federal Agencies regarding the applicability of BABA requirements to housing projects.

Consistent with Implementation Guidance on Application of Buy America Preference in Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure (M-24-02), single family housing projects (buildings consisting of 1-4 dwelling units) are considered “private.” Accordingly, BABA requirements will not apply to HUD Federal Financial Assistance used to fund the construction, maintenance, alteration, or repair of such housing, as such projects are not properly classified as public infrastructure projects for purposes of BABA. However, BABA requirements will apply to projects involving the construction, maintenance, alteration, or repair of housing with 5 or more units (multifamily housing projects).

ONAP will issue additional guidance and update existing guidance for Tribal Recipients relating to BABA and housing projects soon. For now, ONAP encourages all Tribal Recipients to review PIH Notice 2024-35 closely and hold clarifying questions to ONAP staff. We are working on FAQs and will be updating BABA guidance soon to incorporate this new guidance from OMB

Webinar- Radon in Tribal Housing, December 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be hosting a webinar on December 12, 2024, to provide an overview of radon, including what it is, what it does, how it is measured, and how to reduce exposure. Speakers will share resources, including funding opportunities, for Tribes to test and mitigate for radon. The webinar will feature speakers from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kansas State University Radon Program, Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), and HUD. The webinar will be recorded and posted on Codetalk.

Background

Exposure to radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. On January 11, 2024, HUD issued its Departmental Policy for addressing Radon in the Environmental Review Process. This policy requires consideration of radon for all HUD environmental reviews. The policy will go into effect for Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities, and Department of Hawaiian Homelands in January 2026.

December 12, 2024
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Registration Link

Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Tribal Communities

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Tribal Communities. This prestigious award acknowledges innovative approaches, best practices, policies, and community engagement that make significant contributions to serving HUD-assisted Tribal residents.

Awards will be considered under the following priority areas: Community Development, New Housing Construction, Supporting Native Youth, and Honoring and Serving Native Veterans. HUD encourages Tribal Leaders and TDHE staff to submit nominations by February 28, 2025.

Learn more and apply here: HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Tribal Communities.

HUD/IHS Joint Tribal Consultation Comment Period Extension and Webinar

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Indian Health Service (IHS) have published a Dear Tribal Leader letter, extending the Tribal Consultation period seeking Tribes’ feedback and recommendations on how HUD and IHS programs can better address housing-related water and sewer infrastructure needs within Tribal communities.

Comments

The deadline for submitting comments on the HUD/IHS Housing-related Infrastructure for Tribal Communities Tribal Consultation has been extended from Saturday, November 9, 2024, until Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Please email your comments and recommendations to consultation@hud.gov and consultation@ihs.gov. Use the SUBJECT LINE: HUD/IHS Housing-related Infrastructure for Tribal Communities.

Additionally, a virtual Tribal Consultation session will be held on Monday, December 16, 2024 at 1 pm Eastern. Please register to attend here, so that we can ensure you receive any advance consultation materials.

Join the Virtual Consultation Listening Session Using Webex Link:

https://intellor.webex.com/intellor/j.php?MTID=m656156ed93e02e1d7543d1777fe916b9

Join the Virtual Consultation Listening Session by Telephone: The dial-in telephone number is (202) 735- 3323. Use meeting access code number [6478445#]

Register Now: ConnectHomeUSA Summit

December 10-12, 2024 (Virtual/In-person, WA DC)

 The HUD HQ team has worked hard to secure experts and practitioners from the public and private sectors to help you make progress towards learning about digital equity and fulfilling your digital inclusion plans!

The CHUSA Summit is a once-a-year event designed to help ConnectHomeUSA and other HUD-assisted communities build strong and sustainable digital inclusion programs by providing unique access to digital inclusion experts, federal staff, and one-on-one time with representatives from internet service providers, device refurbishers and content providers!

Day 1: specifically for CHUSA communities, attendees will participate in workshops designed to help them utilize key CHUSA resources. Days 2 and 3: are open to other HUD-assisted organizations interested in digital inclusion.

Space is limited, and registration fills up quickly—register today to secure your spot! Register here.

Dear Tribal Leader Letter– Deadline for Submitting Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Interim Funding Requests in the Grants Evaluation and Management System (GEMS)

The Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) is accepting IHBG Formula Interim Funding Requests via GEMS until November 19th, 2024. This deadline provides time to process awards prior to the December 24, 2024, expiration of the Continuing Resolution (CR) under which all Federal agencies are currently operating.

Tribal Homeless Network

What is the Tribal Homelessness Network (THN)? A network of Tribes and TDHEs coming together online for group learning, peer-to-peer collaborative approaches to prevent and end homelessness, and to access technical assistance and support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). THN members will identify topic areas and lead discussions based on issues and challenges facing their communities.

Tribal Homelessness Network

Session Description

Date

Registration Link

Quarterly THN – What Could a Tribally Developed CoC Look Like?

December 11, 2024, 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

Register Now

 

Dear Tribal Leader Letter– ONAP Seeks Tribal Feedback on Draft Sections of the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Policy Handbook

The Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) posted draft sections of the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program Policy Handbook (Handbook) to the Office of Loan Guarantee Drafting Table web page. The draft sections discuss the Section 184 loan origination through final Direct Guarantee Underwriter approval process and requirements.

We encourage Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities and Native Community Development Financial Institutions to submit comments. Comments must be submitted using the Draft Handbook Feedback Sheet and emailed to Section184Comments@hud.gov. The subject line of the email should read “Section 184 Handbook Comments”.

Dear Tribal Leader Letter– Tribal Directory Assessment Tool (TDAT) Enhancement Project

HUD will host a series of listening sessions on October 17th, November 14th, and December 5th, 2024. The sessions will include an overview of TDAT’s recent enhancements and an opportunity for Tribal comments and questions. Through these listening sessions, HUD hopes to advance its understanding of Tribal perspectives on the challenges, benefits, needs, and opportunities for using TDAT. HUD recognizes that Tribal input and continued collaboration throughout the project is vital for its success. Attached is a list of questions for you to consider in advance of these listening sessions. HUD looks forward to hearing your thoughts on TDAT and the ways it can be improved to support your Tribe.

Each listening sessions begins at 2 PM EASTERN TIME on each date (you may join the conference 10 minutes prior). Webex Support: # (301) 250-7202.

To join the virtual listening session please follow the steps below:

December 5, 2024

To join the conference, click: https://intellor.webex.com/intellor/j.php?MTID=m0fc9a477f93c90ff6d80112dda9104a2

Join the Webex event and follow the prompts to connect audio by computer or telephone. If you cannot join by computer, you may dial in by phone only at 1-202-735-3323 with access code 5121843#.

(We understand that some people may have difficulty logging into Webex. We recommend that you use the Google Chrome web browser to log in to the meeting.)

Dear Lender Letter 2024-08– Office of Loan Guarantee FY 2024 Year End Close

Dear Lender Letter 2024-07– Extension of the COVID-19 Loss Mitigation Options

PIH Notice 2024-28– Total Development Cost (TDC) for Affordable Housing Under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA)

This Notice transmits the updated schedule for the maximum amount of funds that may be used for affordable housing under NAHASDA based on Marshall Valuation Service, Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC (M&S/B) and RSMeans Residential Cost Data (RSMeans) for 2024.

Dear Tribal Leader Letter- Simplified Environmental Review Process

ONAP is excited to share new processes that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) developed to simplify and streamline environmental reviews for certain activities funded by the Indian Housing Block Grant, Indian Community Development Block Grant, Title VI Loan Guarantee, Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant, and Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.

Dear Tribal Leader Letter- 2026 Census Challenge

The purpose of this Dear Tribal Leader letter is to inform Tribes and TDHEs that HUD is extending the deadline for FY 2026 Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Formula Census Challenges from March 30, 2025, to May 29, 2025. Additionally, this letter announces that Tribes and TDHEs are now able to access their FY 2026 IHBG Formula Needs Data online here: https://ihbgformula.com/2026-needs-data/.

The regulatory waiver that provides for the Census Challenge deadline extension is linked here: 
https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/2026_Census_Challenge_Regulatory_Deadline.pdf

Press Release: HUD Expands Support for Housing Counseling Services in Tribal Communities

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling announced that it published a final rule outlining housing counselor certification requirements for housing counseling conducted in connection with the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) and the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) programs. Housing counseling programs are an important tool to help further financial literacy – particularly for low- and moderate- income families. This can be the key to ensuring that potential homebuyers are set for long-term success and that renters avoid eviction. With this rule, HUD is removing previous impediments to participation in the HUD housing counseling program by Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities, and other Tribal entities. HUD expects the rule to expand the number of HUD-certified housing counselors serving the unique needs of Tribal communities. View Entire Press Release

OMB Makes Changes to 2 CFR Part 200 and Issues Implementation Memo

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has published a final rule revising 2 CFR Part 200. The guidance makes changes to government-wide policies for the award and administration of Federal financial assistance. Tribes and TDHEs administering IHBG and ICDBG grants are subject to 2 CFR Part 200 and should review the latest changes.

The following links cover the newly issued rules and guidance. HUD may issue additional guidance on the latest changes to 2 CFR Part 200 in the future.

Calculating Annual Income for Purposes of Eligibility under NAHASDA Notice

HUD recently published PIH Notice 2024-07 (“Calculating Annual Income for Purposes of Eligibility under NAHASDA”), which provides updated guidance on how to calculate ‘annual income’ under NAHASDA programs following the changes made by HOTMA to the Section 8/Part 5 definition of ‘annual income’. Grantees should review this Notice closely. The Notice can be found here.

Dear Lender Letter 2024-02– Updated Appraisal Validity Periods

This Dear Lender Letter (DLL) extends the initial appraisal and appraisal update validity periods for Section 184 and Section 184A loans.