Role of Tribal Housing

As Tribal Housing Board of Commissioners, Executive Directors and housing staff, your hard work and efforts create safe and prosperous communities for Native families by expanding homeownership and affordable housing opportunities; empowering residents of Indian housing through the creation of jobs and economic development opportunities; enforcing fair housing opportunities; making Indian housing development drug-free; and helping to end overcrowding and homelessness. This page is designed to provide you with the tools and information you need to make informed decisions regarding the administration of housing, community and economic development programs at your Nation.

Introduction to ONAP Programs

As sovereign nations, tribes are the direct recipients of federal funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Each tribe designates an entity to administer its housing programs with these federal dollars. Referred to as a Tribally Designated Entity, or TDHE, the organization may be a department within the tribe, tribal housing authority with separate board of commissioners, or a nonprofit organization. The entity designated by the tribe to receive HUD funds must comply with the rules and requirements of the program.

The Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) PL104-330 became a law on January 3, 1996, and is the governing statute of the Office of Native American Programs. The intent of the law was to provide federal assistance for Indian tribes in a manner that recognizes the right of tribal self-governance. NAHASDA gave tribal governments’ greater control over the housing program by consolidating a number of federal housing programs that provided funding primarily to low-income Native Americans, into a single, formula-driven recurring block grant program. Under the Indian Housing Block Grant, tribes self-determine the plan, design, construction and maintenance of affordable housing on Indian reservations and Native communities.

Regulations for NAHASDA, which are negotiated with tribes after each reauthorization of the statue, can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 24 CFR Part 1000. HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) issues Notices to articulate regulations in more detail. Notices are reviewed and approved by HUD’s Office of General Counsel. HUD’s Office of Native American Programs issues Program Guidance, which are less formal interpretations of a regulation and is not vetted by the Office of General Counsel.

See related links:

• NAHASDA Statute
• Accessing eLOCCS
• Regulations 24 CFR Part 1000
• Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards 2 CFR Part 200
• Notices applicable to Native American Programs
• ONAP Program Guidance

The Office of Native American Programs administers the following six programs. Visit the ONAP Funding page for more detailed descriptions.

Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG)

Established by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA), the IHBG program is a formula based grant program. Eligible activities include housing development, assistance to housing developed under the Indian Housing Program, housing services to eligible families and individuals, crime prevention and safety, and model activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing problems.

Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program

The Section 184 Program was created in 1992 to help increase Native access to homeownership by providing a guarantee to lenders on mortgage loans made to Native borrowers, including American Indian and Alaska Native families, Alaska Villages, Tribes, or Tribally Designated Housing Entities. Section 184 loans can be used, both on and off native lands, and for new construction, rehabilitation, purchase of an existing home, or refinance.

Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG)

Awarded under an annual competition, Indian Community Development Block Grants provide single purpose grants for housing rehabilitation, land acquisition, community facilities, infrastructure construction, and economic development activities that benefit primarily for low and moderate income persons

Title VI Loan Guarantee Program

Also authorized under NAHASDA, the Title VI Loan Guarantee Program assists Indian Housing Block Grant recipients (borrower) who want to finance eligible affordable housing activities, but are unable to secure financing without the assistance of a federal guarantee.

Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG)

NAHASDA was amended in 2000 to add Title VIII-Housing Assistance for Native Hawaiians. The amendment to NAHASDA added a similar program for Native Hawaiians who reside on Hawaiian Home Lands to the Indian Housing Block Grant.

Section 184A Native Hawaiian Home Loan Guarantee

Authorized in 2000, the Section 184A program provides access to sources of private financing for home ownership, property rehabilitation, and new construction opportunities for eligible Native Hawaiian individuals and families. The use of the Section 184A Loan Guarantee Program is limited to owner-occupant single family dwellings located on Hawaiian home lands.

Tribes are also eligible applicants for many of HUD’s programs, including, but not limited to the below. View a full listing of HUD programs.

• Rural Innovation Fund
• Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Grant (ROSS)
• Family Self-Sufficiency Grant (FSS)
• Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disability
• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

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Reporting Requirements

All Grants:

• Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) - SF-425 forms are required to be submitted via GEMS for all open grants. Contact your local Area ONAP office for due dates. SF-425.
• Fiscal Audit. Your organization’s fiscal audit is required to be submitted directly to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) no later than nine months after fiscal year end, or within 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor's report, whichever is earliest. FAC Website.

Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG):

• Indian Housing Plan (IHP) - The Indian Housing Plan portion of the combined IHP/APR form is required to be submitted via GEMS, 75 days prior to the beginning of the grantee’s program year start. HUD-52737.
• Annual Performance Report (APR) - The Annual Performance Report portion of the combined IHP/APR form is required to be submitted via GEMS, no later than 90 days after your program year end. HUD-52737.
• ARP & CARES Abbreviated Annual Performance Report (APR) - The Annual Performance Report portion of the combined Abbreviated IHP/APR PDF form is required to be submitted to your local ONAP office no later than 90 days after your program year end, for each IHBG-CARES and IHBG-ARP grant. HUD-52737.
• IHBG Competitive Annual Performance Report (APR) - The IHBG Competitive Annual Performance Report is required to be submitted to your local ONAP office no later than 90 days after your program year end, for each open IHBG Competitive Grant. HUD-53248.

Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG):

• Annual Status and Evaluation Report (ASER) - Grantees shall submit to your local Area ONAP office a status and evaluation report on previously funded open ICDBG grants 45 days after the end of the Federal fiscal year and at the time of grant close-out. The report shall be in a narrative form addressing the following areas: Progress, Expenditure of Funds, Program Performance, and if the project has been completed, a Grantee Assessment.
• Contract and Subcontract Activity (MBE Report) - Contract and Subcontract Activity are required to be submitted to your local Area ONAP office no later than October 10th annually for each open ICDBG grant. HUD-2516.

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Resources & Tools

Listed below are links to resources helpful in the administration of housing programs.

• Grants Monitoring resources
• Environmental Reviews
• Income Limits

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ONAP Staff Directory

In the spirit of collaboration and cooperation, ONAP staffs at our Headquarters office in Washington, DC, or at one of our six field offices are available to meet, discuss, and answer any questions you may have.

• Headquarters (Washington, DC)
• Alaska ONAP (Anchorage, AK)
• Northwest ONAP (Seattle, WA)
• Southwest ONAP (Phoenix, AZ)
• Northern Plains ONAP (Denver, CO)
• Southern Plains ONAP (Oklahoma City, OK)
• Eastern Woodlands ONAP (Chicago, IL)

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National Tribal Housing Directory

Directory of contact information of Tribally Designated Housing Entities and Tribal Housing Authorities by ONAP region.

• Alaska Region (Alaska)
• Northwest Region (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington)
• Southwest Region (Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Nevada)
• Northern Plains Region (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming)
• Southern Plains Region (Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas)
• Eastern Woodlands Region (Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin)

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Calendar of Events

Provides information on meetings, conferences, and other training opportunities from housing partners and other federal agencies. View the current month of activities.

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Policy, Development & Research in Indian Country

Compiles reports and research specific to Indian Country conducted by HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). Includes best practices, videos, and nation needs assessment reports. Click here to view page.

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Training

HUD’s Office of Native American Programs sponsors several tuition free trainings and workshops for Tribal Leaders, Tribal housing staff, Tribal housing board members, housing professionals, community, and nonprofit partners. A list of current opportunities available.

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