American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Indian Housing Block Grant Program Awards
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), Public Law 117-2, which provides additional funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the national impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. ARP included $450 million for the Indian Housing Block Grant program. Linked here you will find a funding summary for each eligible Tribe (“Indian Housing Block Grant- American Rescue Plan (IHBG-ARP) Formula Allocations”).
The $450 million in funding was allocated based on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 tribal allocations. Each tribe will receive 69.1376421680391 percent of their FY 2021 IHBG formula allocation. This percentage is equal to the amount appropriated in the ARP divided by the total amount allocated in FY 2021 under the IHBG formula before repayments and grant adjustments ($450,000,00/ $650,875,537).
Read the full Dear Tribal Leader letter here.
Virtual Meeting Update
GLIHA conducted its first Virtual Meeting on March 10, 2021. There were over 35 participants in this meeting. Thank you for your participation and continued support of Indian housing programs. Below are the links to the PowerPoint presentations from this meeting.
Updates
EWONAP Basic Overview
NAHASDA ESSENTIALS GLIHA March 10, 2021 -part 1 -part 2
GLIHA would also like to provide notification of an in-person spring meeting to be held on May 11-12, 2021 at Mystic Lake. A 60 day notification is provided to comply with the requirements for the election of the AMERIND Representative at this meeting.
Also, GLIHA membership dues are due by May 1, 2021. The 2020 GLIHA dues were waived due to the pandemic.
Attached is the invoice for your 2021 dues. Also attached is the W-9 form for those of you who need GLIHA’s tax identification number for the payment of your 2021 dues. Thank you in advance for the payment of your 2021 dues.
Dear Tribal Leader Letter – Supporting Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations
This Dear Tribal Leader (DTL) letter outlines how IHBG-CARES, FY 2020 IHBG, ICDBG-CARES, and FY 2019/2020 ICDBG grant funds can be used to assist Tribal communities with COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In addition, to providing examples of how grant funds can be used, this DTL provides a list of COVID-19 vaccination resources. To learn more about eligible activities, please read the full text of the Dear Tribal Leader letter here.
Dear Tribal Leader Letter – Technical Corrections to FR-6400-N-73 (Tribal HUD-VASH NOFA)
On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Tribal HUD-VASH Expansion program (FR-6400-N-73). This NOFA announced the availability of approximately $3.2 million for competitive grants to eligible Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs). Applicants have until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 15, 2021, to submit applications. For further information about this funding opportunity, please visit https://www.grants.gov/ and https://www.hud.gov/codetalk. This letter is to inform you that the NOFA was corrected on February 9, 2021.
To learn more about the technical corrections, please read the full text of the Dear Tribal Leader letter here.
Dear Tribal Leader Letter – Strengthening Tribal Consultation
On January 26, 2021, President Biden issued a Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships. The Memorandum affirms the Administration’s commitment to Tribal sovereignty and to fulfilling our Federal trust responsibility. The Memorandum also reaffirms the policy announced in Presidential Memorandum of November 5, 2009 (Tribal Consultation), which directed Federal agencies to develop and periodically revise their tribal consultation policies to ensure that Federal agencies consider Tribal feedback when developing policies that have Tribal implications, consistent with Executive Order 13175
In accordance with the January 26th Memorandum, HUD will develop a plan of actions that HUD will take to implement the policies and directives of Executive Order 13175. To do this, HUD is now seeking feedback from Tribal leaders on how we may strengthen Tribal consultation with our Tribal partners. Our goal is to ensure that we always engage in regular, meaningful, and robust consultation in the development of HUD policies that have Tribal implications.
If you have any recommendations or comments on how HUD could improve its Tribal consultation practices and policy, please submit your feedback via email to tribalconsultationpolicy@hud.gov.
Dear Lender Letter 2021-01 – Extension of foreclosure and eviction moratorium and loan processing flexibilities in connection with the Presidentially Declared COVID-19 National Emergency.
The purpose of this Dear Lender Letter (DLL) is to inform lenders and servicers of an extension to the foreclosure and eviction moratorium originally issued in DLL 2020-04, extended in DLL 2020-06, DLL 2020-08, DLL 2020- 10, and further extended in DLL 2020-13 for borrowers with Section 184 or Section 184A guaranteed loans for an additional period through March 31, 2021.
This DLL also announces an extension of the loan processing flexibilities originally issued in DLL 2020-05; extended in DLL 2020-06, DLL 2020-08, and DLL 2020-10; modified and extended in DLL 2020-12; and further extended in DLL 2020-13 for an additional period through March 31, 2021. This extension will allow industry partners additional opportunity to utilize flexible guidance related to re-verification of employment and appraisal protocols for the Section 184 and 184A programs affected by COVID-19.
Dear Tribal Leader Letter – Publication of Tribal Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) Expansion Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Training Sessions
On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the NOFA for the Tribal HUD-VASH Expansion Program. The NOFA announced the availability of approximately $3.2 million for competitive grants to eligible Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs). Applicants have until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 15, 2021, to submit applications. For further information about this funding opportunity, please visit www.grants.gov/ and www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/tribalhudvash.
This letter is to inform you of two scheduled training sessions that will occur for this funding opportunity. These two trainings sessions will have the same content and are being offered to provide several opportunities for potential applicants to attend and ask questions. One session will be held February 17th -18th, 2021 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and an additional repeat session will be held March 3rd -4 th, 2021 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. EDT.
Dear Tribal Leader Letter – Update on the Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program
This is an important message about the Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program for those Indian tribes that have not, or whose tribally designated housing entity (“TDHE”) has not, applied for funding.
If an Indian tribe or its TDHE has already submitted an application for funding and received a confirmation email from Treasury stating that the submission has been received and will be reviewed by Treasury’s processing team, it does not need to do anything further at this time.
As Treasury has previously communicated, any Indian tribe or TDHE that is an eligible grantee under section 501 of Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116-260) must provide complete payment information and a signed acceptance of award terms to Treasury (an “application”) through Treasury’s application portal in order to receive funds from Treasury under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Notice PIH 2021-06 – Process for Amending ICDBG-CARES Grants
This Notice provides ICDBG-CARES grantees with instructions on how to amend the use of existing Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Imminent Threat (IT) funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) (CARES Act).
Changes to Section 3
This Dear Tribal Leader letter highlights recent changes to Section 3 as a result of a Final Rule that was published on September 29, 2020. Beginning on November 30, 2020, the effective date of the Final Rule, Section 3 will no longer apply to Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities.
Tribal HUD VASH 2020 Renewal Awards
In September 2020, HUD awarded almost $3.3 million in Tribal HUD-VASH funding to 26 Tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs). This is the third round of renewal funding provided under the Tribal HUD-VASH demonstration program.
The grants support Native American Veterans and their families by providing rental assistance and associated administrative fees to eligible Tribal HUD-VASH recipients. The funding will ensure that over 350 Native American Veterans who were homeless or at risk of homelessness can continue to be stably housed and receive critical supportive services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The list of grant recipients and funding amounts can be found here.
Waiver of Undisbursed Funds Factor under IHBG Formula for FY21
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 National Emergency, Tribes and TDHEs have experienced delays in expending their Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program funding. To provide relief to these Tribes and TDHEs, HUD is waiving the Undisbursed Funds Factor at 24 CFR 1000.342 with respect to the fiscal year (FY) 2021 IHBG program allocation formula. The waiver provided in this Notice only affects the FY 2021 IHBG formula allocations and does not apply to IHBG formula allocations in years beyond FY 2021.
Program Guidance No. 2020-01– Income Limits under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA)
This guidance replaces Program Guidance 2019-02 with the latest HUD Income Limits applicable to NAHASDA programs.
Environmental Guidance- Tips to Avoid Republication of RROF During COVID-19
This resource provides HUD’s 7015.15 Request Release of Funds (RROF) processing reminders to grantees regarding emailing objections, public review of the environmental review record, and emailing the RROF during COVID-19
HUD’s Office of Native American Programs Reporting Requirements Extension
HUD’s Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) recognizes that, in addition to providing and maintaining affordable housing, Tribes and TDHEs are coordinating emergency health services, emergency housing services, law enforcement, and other essential governmental services in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ONAP also recognizes that these services are being provided while offices are closed, or staff is significantly reduced or teleworking. Therefore, to provide some relief for Tribes impacted by COVID-19, ONAP is extending the due dates for certain reports. Effective immediately, ONAP is extending, by 90 calendar days, the original due date for the following:
- Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Annual Performance Reports
- IHBG Formula and Competitive
- Quarterly and Final Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) for all ONAP managed grants:
- ICDBG and ICDBG Imminent Threat
- ROSS
- Tribal HUD-VASH
- Tribal HUD-VASH Reports (HUD-50058)
- Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Closeouts and Final Status and Evaluation Reports
- Responses to open findings for Audits
The 90-days extension currently applies to original due dates through June 30, 2020. ONAP is taking these actions pursuant to a March 19, 2020, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-20-17. This applies to grantees that have fiscal year-ends through June 30, 2020.
Dear Tribal Leader Letter- Section 184 Skilled Worker Program
Skilled workers are vital to any community’s overall wellbeing and ability to achieve sustainable economic growth. Every community needs police officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, architects, and other technical and skilled workers. Unfortunately, some Tribal communities – particularly those located in very remote areas – have historically struggled to attract skilled workers because of a lack of available housing.
The Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) is seeking your feedback on how the Section 184 Skilled Worker Program should be designed and implemented to work for your communities.
Click for more details.
HUD Guidance on Eligible Uses for Community Development Block Grant Funds to Support COVID-19 Responses
HUD Quick Guide on Eligible Activities for Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Funds
HUD recently posted a guide on eligible uses for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support coronavirus (COVID-19) responses. The guide is a quick reference tool for grantees, such as Tribes and TDHEs, to use when contemplating how to address the effects of COVID-19 in their communities. While the language in the guide specifically references CDBG, ICDBG has the same eligible activities, and therefore the guide can be considered applicable for both programs.
The guide can be found HERE
Section 184- Guideline for Tribes and TDHE Cash Out Refinance
This letter reminds all approved Section 184 lenders, tribes and tribally designated housing entities (THDEs) of the current Cash-Out Refinances guidelines outlined in Chapter 11 of the Guidelines. The Guidelines provide as follows:
- Maximum Loan Amount- The maximum allowable mortgage amount for a cash-out refinance is 85% of the appraised value of the subject property.
- Maximum Cash to Borrower- Refinances that include a cash distribution directly to the borrower are limited to $25,000.
In the past, the Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) granted exceptions to tribes and TDHEs that are Section 184 borrowers and allowed the maximum loan amount to exceed the 85% limit for cash out refinance transactions. ONAP authorized this practice to allow tribes and TDHEs to reinvest in housing in their communities.
This letter formally recognizes this practice and affirms ONAP’s policy to continue this practice and allow tribes and TDHEs to access the equity in their housing stock up to the 97.75% maximum loan to value ratio, provided that the Tribe or TDHE’s purpose of the cash-out refinance is to rehabilitate existing or construct additional housing in their communities. Direct Guarantee lenders must document the Section 184 loan file accordingly. The lenders documentation must clearly show that a determination was made that the tribe or TDHE intended to use the cash-out refinance process for these housing-related purposes.
Program Guidance- No. 2019-05 FBI Criminal History Guidance
Purpose: This guidance updates and replaces NAHASDA Guidance No. 20 13-08, Update to Instructions for Obtaining FBI Criminal History Record Information, August 19, 2013. It advises Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHE5) on the process for obtaining Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history record information of adult applicants for employment or current and prospective tenants for purposes of applicant screening, lease enforcement, and eviction.
Program Guidance 2019-03: Recent Changes to the federal Micro-Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds
This guidance informs Indian Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities about increases to the micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds for programs involving Federal funds.
_____________________________________________________________________
Determining and Using Program Income Under NAHASDA
PIH 2019-07– This notice replaces PIH Notice 2000-18 and provides guidance for determining and using program income generated by the use or disbursement of Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funds.
______________________________________________________________________
Tribal Leaders Handbook on Homeownership
The Center for Indian Country Development’s Tribal Leaders Handbook on Homeownership provides detailed examples, case studies, checklists, and information on developing affordable homeownership in Indian Country. This essential guide provides information on new mortgage programs (government and private), the new kinds of lenders (loan funds, Native CDFIs), and the new energies that are transforming Indian housing. Download a copy HERE.
____________________________________________________________________
Updated Healthy Home Checklist from EPA/CDC/HUD/DHHS
Home assessments can help make homes healthier. Checklist covers the major contributors to asthma and allergies, with suggested action items that are generally simple and low cost. Download a copy HERE.