Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Grant Program

 

What is the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Grant Program?

The IHBG program is authorized under Title I of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, as amended, (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.) (NAHASDA). Under the program, eligible Indian tribes and tribally-designated housing entities (TDHEs) receive grants to carry out a range of affordable housing activities. Grant funds may be used to develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing in safe and healthy environments on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas, and carry out other affordable housing activities. Grant funds must be used to primarily benefit low-income Indian families. 

In January 2017, HUD released a study entitled, “Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas: A Report From the Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs.” Among the findings, the study found that tribal households are substantially worse than other U.S. households, with overcrowding in tribal areas being especially severe. The study noted that in the 2013-2015 period alone, 68,000 new units would have been necessary to help eliminate overcrowding and replace physically deteriorating units. Additional information is available at: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/codetalk/onap/hsingstudy.

The Department recognizes that this additional IHBG funding provides a rare opportunity to fund strong and viable affordable housing projects in Indian Country. These projects could begin to address the concerns identified in the study. In accordance with the Appropriations Acts, HUD will give priority to projects that spur construction and rehabilitation, while considering need and administrative capacity. HUD strongly encourages new affordable housing construction projects that will increase the number of housing units available for low-income Indian families and help address the housing shortage in Indian Country. Additionally, HUD encourages housing rehabilitation projects that will increase the useful life of existing affordable housing units and alleviate substandard housing conditions. HUD also encourages necessary affordable housing-related infrastructure projects that will enable future construction or rehabilitation. While HUD will give funding priority for new construction projects, rehabilitation projects, and related necessary infrastructure projects, applicants may also apply for funding to carry out other eligible activities under NAHASDA.

Finally, Indian tribes and TDHEs that are applying for funding under this Program are encouraged to propose projects that are part of a comprehensive plan to address housing conditions in their communities, including overcrowding and physically deteriorating units, as appropriate. Applicants should also engage in long-term planning and ensure that the project being proposed is part of a holistic plan that considers planned future infrastructure development, economic development opportunities, and more.

How to Apply?

Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities can visit www.grants.gov to locate the funding announcement and application package.

For assistance or additional information, please contact your local ONAP or email requests to: IHBGCompetitiveProgram@hud.gov.

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NEW!  A Technical Correction (TC) has been issued on grants.gov for the Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive NOFA (October 9, 2020)

The Technical Correction is implemented in Section V. Application Review Information via Subfactor 3.2-Project Implementation Plan (p. 43-45) and in Section VI. B.1 (p. 59) by omitting the Section 3 requirements that are no longer applicable to this NOFA.

Section V Subfactor 3.2 omitted language (p. 43-45):

• Description of how the applicant will train and/or employ residents pursuant to Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 or contract with Section 3 businesses to provide other economic opportunities in accordance with Section III.F and III.G of this NOFA; and

•. If a conflict is identified between Section 3 and Indian Preference requirements, describe the nature of the conflict and how it will be addressed.

This change does not change impact the maximum amount of points an applicant can receive for this rating factor.

Section VI. B. 1 omitted language (p. 59):

• Economic Opportunities for Low-and Very Low-income Persons (Section 3).

Download a copy of the updated version here.

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NEW!  IHBG Competitive NOFA Frequently Asked Questions (October 22, 2020) 

Please check out our updated Frequently Asked Questions that address commonly asked questions related to the FY20 IHBG Competitive grant application process.

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NEW! Dear Tribal Leader Letter - Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG)-Competitive Grant Program: 1) Corrected Application Package and 2) Training Sessions

The initial Grants.gov posting of the IHBG-Competitive Grant Program NOFA contained an omission error regarding the Certification for Opportunity Zone (OZ) Preference Points. The application package, via correction, now includes the OZ Certification form for applicants to download. Also, for any applicants that started the application process, the OZ Certification form has been removed from the downloadable instructions zip file. All applicants should download a new application package to ensure you are accessing the most recent, updated materials. For further information and to view the changes, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=328626

HUD will host two training sessions via webinar for eligible applicants on the IHBG-Competitive Grant Program NOFA. These sessions are being offered to provide multiple opportunities for potential applicants to attend and ask questions. One session will be held September 21^st-24^th from 12:30-5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and the other session will be held September 29^th-October 2^nd from 12:30-5:00 p.m. EDT.  Please refer to the agenda for a breakdown of the webinar training topics.

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NEW! Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive NOFA Training Recording and Slides Available (October 7, 2020)

• Day One:  Overview, Review of NOFA Changes, and Rating Factor One
  • Agenda
  • Recording (September 21, 2020)
  • Slide Deck - Overview of IHBG Competitive NOFA
  • Slide Deck - Rating Factor One - Capacity of the Applicant
• Day Two:  Rating Factors Two and Three
  • Recording (September 22, 2020)
  • Slide Deck - Rating Factor Two:  Need/Extent of the Problem
  • Slide Deck - Rating Factor Three:  Soundness of Approach
• Day Three:  Rating Factor Four and Five and Post Rating Factors
  • ​Recording (September 23, 2020)
  • Slide Deck - Rating Factor Four:  Leveraging Resources
  • Slide Deck - Rating Factor Five:  Comprehensiveness and Coordination
  • Slide Deck - Post Rating Factors
• Day Four:  Question and Answer Session
  • ​Recording (September 24, 2020)

Questions can be sent to:  IHBGCompetitiveProgram@hud.gov.

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Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Awards Announced

On December 10, 2019, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced nearly $200 million in grant awards to 52 Native American Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) across the Nation for new housing construction, housing rehabilitation, and critical infrastructure projects. HUD announced the grants during the 2019 National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) Legal Symposium in Las Vegas.

The IHBG competition was extremely competitive. HUD received almost 200 applications from eligible Native American Tribes and TDHEs. Today's awards are the result of a thoughtful and rigorous application process.  ONAP is excited about this new opportunity and thanks everyone who applied. Instructions for requesting a debriefing will be sent to each applicant over the next several days.

Click to view the press release