HUD has announced $128 million in Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive grant awards to 22 different Tribes and Tribally-Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs). HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced the awards during a recent visit to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe in Kenai, Alaska. The IHBG Competitive grants supplement IHBG Formula funds and are targeted to new housing construction in Native communities. According to HUD’s press release, 94% of the IHBG Competitive awards have been channeled towards supporting the construction of new housing units, addressing a pressing need across Indian country.
The IHBG Competitive Grant was created by the U.S. Congress as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2018 omnibus spending package and directed HUD to award grants to tribes based on need and capacity. Due in part to the leadership of Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), the program allows TDHEs to build and rehabilitate desperately needed affordable homes for American Indians and Alaska Natives (see Memo, 11/5/2018). Funding for the IHBG program increased from $100 million in FY21 to $150 million in FY23, thanks to advocacy from tribal housing leaders.
This year’s awards represent a significant investment in Tribal housing. Awards range from $2.2 million for the Housing Authority of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe in Oklahoma, to $7.5 million, the ceiling amount for the grant (as stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity). Ten Tribes received the maximum grant amount, including the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority and Kenaitze-Salamatof TDHE in Alaska, Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki and White Mountain Apache Housing Authority in Arizona, Fort Hall Housing Authority in Idaho, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Michigan, Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, Warm Springs Housing Authority in Oregon, and Lummi Nation Housing Authority and Port Gamble S’Klallam Housing Authority in Washington State.
See the full list of awardees and descriptions of each project here.
Read HUD’s press release at: https://tinyurl.com/393zffa6
Explore the list of Tribal awardees at: https://tinyurl.com/3m66me7e