National American Indian Housing Council

Native Housing Update – 01/04/23

Published: January 10, 2023
Under: News | NHU

Membership Updates

Save the Date! Details and Registration for Both Events Opening Soon!

2023 Annual Legislative Conference March 6-8, 2023 | Washington D.C.

Join us in the Nation’s Capital for the 2023 Annual Legislative Conference to participate in Congressional and federal meetings that are vital in moving legislative priorities forward for Indian Country. Stay tuned for more information.

2023 Annual Convention | May 8-11 | Waikoloa, Hawaii

Mark your calendar for the upcoming 2023 Annual Convention in Waikoloa, Hawaii! Details and registration will become available soon.

NAIHC Legislative Committee Meeting

NAIHC will host its monthly Legislative Committee Meeting TOMORROW at 1 p.m. ET. Join the Legislative Committee call to hear legislative updates, recent grant announcements, and other policy and program updates from NAIHC and other participants. NAIHC holds this meeting every first Thursday of the month.

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Thursday, January 5, 2023
1:00 p.m. ET

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Meeting ID: 974 9678 7338

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+1 301 715 8592 (Washington DC)
+1 929 205 6099 (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 (Houston)

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Need a reminder? Add meeting to your calendar.

Congress Passes Full Year FY23 Funding, Includes Small Increases for Tribal Housing

Right before the Christmas break, Congress passed full-year FY23 appropriations. The bill included $787 million for the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) formula, which is a small 2% increase over the prior year and the highest funding level since the IHBG was created in 1996. Full-year funding also provided increases to the Indian Community Development Block Grant ($75 million), HUD-VASH ($7.5 million) and the 184 Loan Guarantee Program ($5.5 million). The bill provides funding for NAHASDA programs through September 30, 2023.

Unfortunately, the final spending package did not include a reauthorization for NAHASDA or an extension for the Emergency Rental Assistance program, both of which NAIHC had been pushing for. See the funding table below for more details, and join the Legislative Committee call this week to learn more about next steps.

HUD Announces Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Program NOFO

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces the availability of an historically-high $379 million in funding to communities across the country. Tribal housing entities are eligible and encouraged to apply. The application deadline is January 11, 2023. The maximum grant award is $50 million.
For more information and to apply, please follow the link below.

NAIHC Seeks Qualified Individuals for its Executive Director Position Based in Washington, D.C.

The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as full-time Executive Director based in its Washington, DC headquarters. The Executive Director is responsible for all business operations, including management of NAIHC assets, hiring, training, promotion, discipline and termination of employees; and for establishing and maintaining the business organization and structure to efficiently conduct the management functions of NAIHC. Follow the link below for the full position description, qualifications, and directions to apply.

HUD releases FY 2022 Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

HUD ONAP has released the FY 2022 Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Awards will range from $500,000 to $7,500,000, an increase from last year. Please follow the link below to download a copy of the NOFO and to apply. Applications are due January 24, 2023.

HUD Tribal Consultation Schedule on Section 184 Proposed Rule

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is conducting national and regional Tribal consultations during the recent Section 184 proposed rule’s public comment period. At each consultation session, HUD officials will provide an overview of the proposed rule, explain its impact on Tribes and Tribal borrowers, and then listen to comments on the proposed rule from attendees. Written comments may also be submitted during the public comment period as directed in the proposed rule. 

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Tribal Consultation Schedule: 
  • January 10, 2023 Norman, Oklahoma, Riverwind Hotel & Casino (In conjunction with Southern Plains Indian Housing Association (SPIHA) meeting)
  • January 20, 2023 Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dennis Chavez Federal Building
  • January 24, 2023 Arlington, Washington (in conjunction with Northwest Indian Housing Association (NWIHA) meeting)
  • January 31, 2023 Alaska Region Webinar
  • February 2, 2023 National Webinar
  • February 6 or 7, 2023 Tentative. Arlington, VA, (In conjunction with United Southern and Eastern Tribes (USET) meeting)

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For more information, please contact Deana O’Hara at [email protected] or visit the Section 184- Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program website.

HUD Announces Section 184 Skilled Worker Demonstration Program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that Section 184 Program now allows Tribes/TDHEs to obtain a loan from a Section 184 approved Lender for the construction of rental housing for Skilled Workers within a Tribe’s Section 184 Indian Area. Tribes/TDHEs are encouraged to apply through HUD by submitting a description of the proposed development, if available. Please note that the skilled worker tenant is not required to be an enrolled member of the Tribe.

For more information on how to apply, and to submit questions, please follow the link below to the view the Dear Lender Letter.

HUD Extends Deadline for Tribal Feedback on ICDBG Grant Ceilings and General Programmatic Improvements

The Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) appropriation includes a $5 million set-aside for Imminent Threat grants. Currently, the maximum grant ceiling is set at $450,000 for non-Presidentially declared disasters and $900,000 for Presidentially declared disasters. These grant ceilings have been in place for many years and HUD recognizes that since these grant ceilings were established, costs have increased for things, such as transportation, construction materials, and labor. Recently, ONAP increased the grant ceilings and rehabilitation cost limits for the ICDBG Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to reflect higher costs.

HUD is seeking your input on Imminent Threat Program. Specifically, HUD is requesting your feedback on the following questions:
1. Should HUD increase the ICDBG Imminent Threat grant ceilings, and if so, what should the new maximum grant ceilings be?
2. Do you have any other suggestions on improvements that HUD could make to the ICDBG Imminent Threat program?

Comments should be submitted electronically to [email protected] by January 6, 2023.

Federal Communications Commission Announces Affordability Connectivity Campaign with Tribal Specific Benefit Program

The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a monthly internet service discount and a one-time connected device benefit from participating internet companies for qualifying low-income consumers living on Tribal lands. Eligible participants can benefit up to $75 to cover the cost of your internet service and a one-time device benefit of up to $100 for a computer, tablet, or laptop. For more information and to apply for the FCC Program, please follow the link below.

National Low Income Housing Coalition and UNAHA Released Report on ERA Fund Successes

NLIHC and the United Native American Housing Association (UNAHA) released a new report, Serving Native American Households Using ERA: Learning from High-Spending Programs. The report investigates the unique characteristics of high-spending emergency rental assistance (ERA) programs administered by Native American Tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs). Notably, it highlights Tribes and TDHEs varying levels of success in administering their ERA programs. Please follow the link below to reach more.

Tribal Services for Housing Assistance Survey

Complete the Tribal Housing Assistance Survey for a Chance to Win a Gift Card – 20-Minute Survey Helps Us Help You!

If you attended the Legal Symposium on December 5-7, 2022, in Las Vegas, then you may have heard about NAIHC’s Tribal Housing Assistance Resource Hub. It’s a website designed to link tribal members with housing services and assistance like mortgage, utility, and rental assistance offered by their tribe or state. NAIHC continues to request help from tribal housing programs to complete the Tribal Housing Assistance Survey that helps the organization to update the directory of services and make it available on the Resource Hub website for those tribal members in need. Here’s how to get started:

 

  1. Check the Resource Hub website for your program’s information.
  2. If your tribe is not listed, that means a survey was not completed on behalf of your program.
  3. Please have someone on your team to take 20 minutes to complete the survey. Questions focus on the types of housing services your program offers to tribal members, and the types of funding used to provide those services, including the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) and the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs.

 

Every survey submission has a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Follow the link to take the survey: https://forms.gle/hcvaA8S2KdoX71DR8.

 

HAF Technical Assistance Available

HAF Technical Assistance Available for Tribal Housing Programs

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NAIHC offers training and technical assistance for tribal housing programs applying for HAF and ERAP funding. To request assistance, please complete the NAIHC technical assistance request form.

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For more information, please contact LindaLee Retka, NAIHC Training and Technical Assistance Director, at [email protected].

NAIHC Leadership Institute

leadership institute banner - elearning

The National American Indian Housing Council is proud to launch its first eLearning course, Indian Housing Management, NAIHC’s original Leadership Institute course. In addition to popular and interactive live trainings, NAIHC is excited to expand the delivery of current training options to include the convenience of online learning.

Indian Housing Management | e-Learning | Click here to register

NAIHC/HUD Training Schedule

HUD-ONAP recently lifted some their agency travel restrictions. Because of these changes, we expect to offer in-person trainings in the coming weeks.

 

For more information on trainings, please contact NAIHC Training and Technical Assistance staff at [email protected]

Partner Announcements

Travois Announces Their 23rd Annual Indian Country Affordable Housing & Economic Development Conference in Washington D.C.

Travois is excited to host their one-of-a-kind educational conference on April 17-19, 2023, to provide help for tribal entities interested in securing funds for affordable housing and economic developments in Tribal communities. Experts provide in-depth instruction the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program and the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program and share innovative practices in planning, securing financing, architectural design, construction monitoring, asset management and compliance and more.

This event is free for those working in housing, community or economic development and who serve American Indian, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian communities.

For more information, please follow the link below.

Associated News and Updates

Permanent Supportive Housing With Housing First: Findings From a Community Guide Systematic Economic Review

The annual economic burden of chronic homelessness in the United States is estimated to be as high as $3.4 billion every year. Tribal communities are effected and overly represented in homelessness issues and rates across the country. The Permanent Supportive Housing program has been shown to be effective. Read a paper from the American journal of preventive medicine that examines the economic cost and benefit of Housing First Programs.

US EPA Announces Managing Disaster Debris on Tribal Lands Training

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) features the Managing Disaster Debris on Tribal Lands in a recent issue in the Tribal Waste Journal. The journal provides vital information and success stories that will assist Tribes with preparing for a disaster and how to identify, properly manage and dispose of disaster debris, and how to minimize or prevent environmental impacts. To learn more about the Journal and to read the recent issue, please follow the link below.

Native Wellness Institute Trainings offered in the New Year

The Native Wellness Institute provide trainings that incorporate Tribal teachings to remind us to strive to be a better person today than we were yesterday. This interactive FREE training will provide tools and strategies to help you plan and be successful in the new year. Follow the link below to register.

FEMA announces the 8th Annual Tribal Nations Training Week in Anniston, Alabama

FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness announced open registration for the 8th Annual Tribal Nations Training Week from March 11-18, 2023 on the CDP campus in Anniston, AL. This training will offer a variety of specialized training courses for Tribal and Native professionals on a wide range of topics. Please note that each course has its own unique code in order to register. For any questions, please contact David Hall, CDP Eastern Region and Tribal Nations Training Coordinator at [email protected] or 866-213-9546.

Career Opportunities

Hiring? Looking for services?

Send the info to NAIHC! 

NAIHC will post your organization’s career and RFP announcements on NAIHC platforms upon request. To have NAIHC post your announcements, please email all relevant information including any deadlines and organization point of contact to: [email protected]Note: All approved announcements are posted for two weeks or until the announcement’s end date and then removed.

 

Visit NAIHC’s career page for more job announcements from tribal housing programs and non-profit organizations across the country.

NAIHC Thanks Our 2022 Partners

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