Native American Programs

News

What's New on Codetalk

View the latest Information from the Office of Native American Programs.

Beginning July 9, 2026, Tribes/TDHEs can request up to 2 hours of targeted, direct ICDBG-IT-related TA.

This virtual TA will assist Tribes/TDHEs navigate ICDBG-IT applicability and requirements and will answer questions related to:

• Determining if proposed activities are eligible for ICDBG-IT funding
• If applicable, understanding and planning next steps

On-call TA is available at no cost to Tribes/TDHEs. To request TA, please email [email protected] and include the following information:

• Tribe/TDHE name
• Primary contact (name, phone number, email)
• Prior experience with the ICDBG-IT grant
• Brief description of activity type
• Specific questions to address

2nd Annual Underwriter’s Boot Camp of the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program

On August 31, 2026, the Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) will host its 2nd Annual Underwriter’s Boot Camp of the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program here at HUD Alexandria, VA. This immersive training session will focus on a range of key topics that are essential for Direct Lenders & Underwriters, Non-Direct Lenders & Support Staff, and Prospective Lenders interested in working with the Section 184 Program on how to become an approved lender. The boot camp will provide in-depth coverage, offering valuable insights and strategies to enhance your skills and knowledge.

This is an invaluable opportunity to preview the new program guidance directly with Section 184 staff. Whether you’re new to the Section 184 program or an experienced underwriter, this boot camp will provide you with tools and knowledge to enhance your efficiency and support.

We also invite you to stay the rest of the week at the HUD Summit, offered September 1-3, for additional in-depth sessions on handbook guidance, Tribal land leasing, and other topics while networking with Tribes, TDHEs and Tribal housing folks from all over the country. Free registration is here HUD Housing Summit

The deadline for R.S.V.P is August 21, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Register Here

Radon Analysis Extension

HUD has published a Notice (CPD-2026-011) that extends the effective date of Notice CPD-23-103, which established a departmental policy for addressing radon in the environmental review process, for Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs), and Department of Hawaiian Homelands. The effective date has been extended to October 1, 2026. A copy of the Notice can be found here.

HUD’s National Tribal Housing Summit

The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is coordinating HUD’s National Tribal Housing Summit that will take place Tuesday, September 1 through Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC – Crystal City.

HUD’s National Tribal Housing Summit will provide a forum for training, exchanging ideas, and developing best practices for models that implement and sustain effective affordable housing programs under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA). The theme of the National Summit is “Rooted in Tradition: Rising in Resilience”.

Find more information here: 2026 HUD's National Tribal Housing Summit - National American Indian Housing Council

HUD Publishes FY26 Income Limits for the IHBG and NHHBG Programs

HUD has issued updated the ONAP Program Guidance for FY2026 Income Limits under the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) programs.

Tribes and TDHEs can access FY26 IHBG Income Limits here.

DHHL can access FY26 NHHBG Income Limits here.

If you have any questions on FY26 Income Limits, contact your Area Office.

HUD Issues NEW Waivers for Presidentially Declared Disasters in 2026:

To provide regulatory relief to Tribes, TDHEs, and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands following a disaster, HUD has issued a new Federal Register Notice outlining various statutory and regulatory waivers. These flexibilities apply if you are an Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG), Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG), or Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) grantee located in areas covered by a Presidentially Declared Disaster (PDD) declared during calendar year 2026. They also apply if you are carrying out activities to assist families impacted by such disasters.

The Notice details can notify HUD of their intent to use these waivers. It offers immediate regulatory relief and streamlines certain program requirements to ensure that you can focus on assisting impacted families during the challenging time following a disaster. The notice includes step-by-step instructions.

If you are impacted by a disaster, please review the notice here and contact your area ONAP office.

Please note that HUD still has some remaining FY26 ICDBG Imminent Threat funding. If your Tribe has been impacted by an imminent threat to health or safety following a natural disaster or other hazard, please work with your area ONAP office to determine whether you qualify in applying for an ICDBG Imminent Threat grant.

NEW! FY 2027 Indian Housing Block Grant Formula Allocation Estimates

The purpose of this Dear Tribal Leader letter is to inform Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHE) of their Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) formula allocation estimate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 and to transmit the forms required for correcting the FY 2027 IHBG formula data and the FY 2028 Needs data. HUD is posting the following information on-line at: https://ihbgformula.com/fy2027/:

• FY 2027 Formula Response Form (FRF) including the FY 2027 FRF Appendices A through D and the FY 2028 IHBG Needs data (Attachment A).
• Calendar of Critical Deadlines and Frequently Asked Questions.
• FY 2027 Correction/Challenge Log showing changes to the IHBG database between March 7, 2026, and May 4, 2026.

Tribes/TDHEs must review their data on the FY 2027 Formula Response Form and report any changes no later than August 1, 2026, to the IHBG Formula Customer Service Center. Census challenges must be submitted by March 30, 2027, to the IHBG Formula Customer Service Center to be considered for the FY 2028 IHBG allocation estimates.

ICDBG Grantees Must Exclude Service-Connected Disability Compensation When Calculating Income

On January 20, 2026, Congress passed the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, Public Law 119-70. The law requires Indian tribes receiving Indian Community Development Block Grants (ICDBG) to exclude any service-connected disability compensation received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from a person’s income when determining whether the person is a person of low and moderate income (LMI). The law was designed to prevent disabled veterans from losing their eligibility for ICDBG assistance due to earned disability benefits.

Accordingly, moving forward, all Indian tribes and tribal organizations administering an ICDBG grant must ensure that this form of income is excluded from a household’s income when determining whether the household is LMI, and is therefore eligible to receive ICDBG-funded assistance.

When an Indian tribe is determining whether an activity benefits a particular area where at least 51 percent of the residents are LMI under the Area benefit category in 24 CFR 1003.208(a), the Indian tribe may continue to use Census-based data even though the Census definition does not exclude VA service-connected disability compensation. However, if an Indian tribe believes that this area is close to the threshold of having 51 percent of the residents being LMI, the Indian tribe should consider conducting an income survey under 24 CFR §1003.208(a)(3), which must exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from all income calculations. HUD especially encourages Indian tribes with areas with high concentrations of veterans to consider conducting such surveys if the area is just below the 51 percent LMI threshold.

ONAP will be providing further guidance soon. In the meantime, please ensure that service-connected disability compensation from the VA is excluded from income under ICDBG.

This change will also apply to other grants subject to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, such as PRICE grants received by Tribal grantees.

Please note that this change to the ICDBG program is similar to the income exclusion that already exists for programs subject to section 4(9)(C) of NAHASDA, including the Indian Housing Block Grant program, Title VI Loan Guarantee program, and the Tribal HUD-VASH program. This change now adds a similar statutory income exclusion under the ICDBG program.

Radon Analysis Extension

HUD has published a Notice (CPD-2026-006 ) that extends the effective date of Notice CPD-23-103, which established a departmental policy for addressing radon in the environmental review process, for Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs), and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The effective date has been extended by an additional 60 days to July 10, 2026. A copy of the Notice can be found here.