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HUD's Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) administers housing and community development programs that benefit American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments, tribal members, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Native Hawaiians, and other Native American organizations. Read more about ONAP’s mission, funding programs, directory, and program accomplishments. Final Housing Needs Study Published and Results Briefing Monday, January 23rd In conjunction with the release, the research team, led by the Urban Institute, will offer a briefing on the key findings of the Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs. Monday, January 23 Link: With Captions - http://portalapps.hud.gov/HUDMediaChannel/liveplayer.jsp Email for submitting questions during the Q & A period: housing_needs_report@hud.gov FEMA Finalizes Pilot Guidance for Tribal Disaster Declarations Process for Stafford Act Disasters The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the release of its Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance and the beginning of the pilot phase of tribal declarations under this new guidance. The pilot guidance describes the process which tribal governments will use to request Stafford Act declarations and the criteria FEMA will use to evaluate direct tribal declaration requests and make recommendations to the President. Click Here to read the full release. PIH 2015-2016 Annual Report Highlights Accomplishments in Native American Programs HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing has issued the 2015–2016 Accomplishments Summary that highlights progress made in Native American Programs, including Supporting Tribal sovereignty and housing innovation.
Read the full 2-page summary HERE. HUD-wide Environmental Notice - HUD Balcony Policy under 24 CFR 51, Subpart B CPD Notice 16-19 clarifies the Department’s approach to balconies within the Department’s regulatory constraints in 24 CFR Part 51 Subpart B, Noise Abatement and Control. The Notice changes HUD’s previous, informal policy of not allowing balconies off bedrooms and instead requires an Operations and Maintenance Plan with periodic inspections of seals and repair or replacement if necessary. The Notice reinforces that if the windows and doors serve as noise mitigation, a mechanical ventilation system must be installed. Questions about the Notice should be directed to Jim Potter at (202) 402-4610 or james.m.potter@hud.gov. Additional information about HUD’s noise regulation can be found on the HUD Exchange. The HUD Region IX Environmental Office will conduct a free three-day training from February 8, 2017 10:00am through February 10, 2017 4:00pm to help HUD grantees, federal, state, and local government staff, “Responsible Entities,” and consultants undertaking HUD environmental reviews to gain a better understanding of Federal environmental requirements and procedures. This training is designed to assist those who actually prepare Environmental Review documents under 24 CFR Part 58, as well as those who review and approve such documents. Specific topics to be addressed include the National Environmental Policy Act, sole source aquifers, scenic rivers, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Clean Air Act, wetlands, floodplain management and flood insurance, coastal zone management, endangered species, farmlands, environmental justice, noise abatement, toxic and hazardous substances, other factors and procedural requirements of 24 CFR Part 58, including recommended formats for compliance documentation and an introduction to HUD’s Environmental Review Online System (HEROS). The training will be conducted in-person in the Los Angeles and San Francisco HUD conference rooms. The training will be simulcast via video-conferencing to the Phoenix (AZ), Reno (NV), Las Vegas (NV), Honolulu (HI), HUD conference rooms. This is the Registration Link which users can use to Register for the event: http://www.hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.registerEvent&eventId=2958&update=N. Questions should be directed to Kathleen McNulty at (415) 489-6644 or Kathleen.a.mcnulty@hud.gov. Competitive Onsite Solid Waste and Superfund Mentor Programs – Applications Accepted Until February 3, 2017 The Solid Waste Onsite Mentor Program assists tribes facing challenges in implementing waste diversion or source reduction activities as part of their solid waste program (for example recycling, composting, minimizing hazardous substances in your waste stream, making tribally-owned facilities more sustainable, etc.). The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) provides the opportunity to visit another tribe, or have a technical expert visit your tribe, to learn about new techniques to assist your programs from a colleague. For more details and the application, please visit: https://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Waste/waste_mentors. Comment Period for HUD Environmental Justice Strategy Open Until February 15, 2017 HUD has released its draft Environmental Justice Strategy for public comment. The draft Strategy is posted on the HUD Exchange. Comments must be submitted by February 15, 2017. The updated strategy will be unveiled at the EJ Conference and Workshop in early March. Comments can be submitted to EJSTRATEGY@HUD.GOV or to the HUD EJ Coordinator, Jim Potter by postal mail at: PUBLISHED: Executive Summary from the Housing Needs Study On January 3, 2017, HUD published “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: Executive Summary”. This report summarizes principal findings and conclusions of the Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs, a congressionally mandated study. Read the Executive Summary here. Dear Tribal Leaders Letter announcing establishment of a Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Nominations due February 21, 2017! Published today the Dear Tribal Leaders Letter from HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Lourdes Castro Ramirez, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Programs, Heidi Frechette, announces the establishment of HUD’s Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee and calls for nominations to that committee. This Committee will facilitate communication between HUD and tribal leaders on housing priorities and strengthen capacity building opportunities. The Committee will enhance regular, meaningful consultation and collaboration between federal and tribal officials. Instructions for nominating a tribal official to the Committee are outlined in the Federal Register notice. Nominations are due by February 21, 2017. Online training tools for Environmental Review now available Web-based Instructional System for Environmental Review (WISER) - This online training series from HUD’s Office of Environment offers specific information on environmental topics, enabling users to evaluate topics such as risk to endangered species, considerations regarding bodies of water such as rivers, ponds and wetlands, as well as how to achieve environmental justice goals and protect HUD-assisted projects from excessive noise. Each module includes a downloadable key definitions PDF, knowledge checks to confirm comprehension, and links to needed resources. To explore this new curriculum, visit the WISER webpage. Dear Tribal Leaders Letter regarding Coordinated Environmental Review Initiative. Comments due February 12, 2017. As the lead agency in the federal effort to develop a coordinated environmental review process for housing and housing-related infrastructure in Indian Country, HUD issued a Dear Tribal Leader letter requesting review and comments on the draft interagency Memorandum of Understanding and its companion draft Statement of Intent, which are intended to encourage the use of tools that can streamline the federal environmental review process. The final documents will be used by entities, including tribes, that are responsible for conducting federal environmental reviews. HUD will present a webinar to discuss the two draft documents on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. EST. If you have any questions about the letter or attachments, please contact Hilary Atkin, 202-402-3427. Join Skype Meeting Job Vacancies! HUD Native American Program Support Specialist and Program Assistant in Washington DC HUD’s Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) is accepting applications for:
Tribal HUD-VASH technical correction Notice was published Today’s Federal Register notice makes technical correction to the October 21, 2015, notice to clarify the program’s intent and to address various issues that have risen during the implementation of the Tribal HUD-Veterans Supportive Housing (VASH) program. Job Vacancy! HUD Lead Grants Management Specialist ONAP is accepting applications for a Lead Grants Management Specialist in Washington, DC. Application due date: December 19, 2016. Click Here to apply. Section 184 Annual Fee Increase Notice and FAQs Effective December 1, 2016 the new annual loan guarantee fee will increase from .0015 to .0025 percent for Section 184 case numbers issued on or after December 1, 2016. The new annual premium will apply to all new loan guarantees, including refinances. Read the full Federal Register Notice HERE. Frequently Asked Questions HERE. The revised Section 184 MCAW (Amortization and fee schedule tab has been changed to reflect the annual fee of .0025). Update to Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program Processing Guideline Changes A November 15, 2016 memo notifies lenders of changes to PIH Notice 2014-22 that impact Section 184 loans. The amendment is effective for all Section 184 Case Numbers issued on or after December 1, 2016. FHE Mortgage Letter guidance on calculating student loan payments for Section 184 loans Final Rule Published! 24 CFR Part 1000 Revisions to the Indian Housing Block Grant Program Formula Published in the Federal Register today, this final rule revises the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program allocation formula authorized by section 302 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, as amended (NAHASDA). Through the IHBG Program, HUD provides federal housing assistance for Indian tribes in a manner that recognizes the right of Indian self-determination and tribal self-government. HUD negotiated this final rule with active tribal participation and using the procedures of the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990. The regulatory changes reflect the consensus decisions reached by HUD and the tribal representatives on ways to improve and clarify the current regulations governing the IHBG Program formula. The new regulation will take effect for the fiscal year 2018 IHBG allocations. One of the most significant changes will be that the formula data will be drawn from the United States Decennial Census and the (U. S. Census) American Community Survey; however, there will be adjustments to minimize the volatility such change could trigger. Other changes include administrative changes to the demolition language and conveyance requirements, and an increase to the minimum grant amount. Equal Access Rule Published Today, HUD published the Equal Access to Housing in HUD’s Native American and Native Hawaiian Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Rule. Read the official Rule in the Federal Register HERE. Webinar on HUD Proposed Rule on Floodplain Elevation Standards Thursday, December 8th at 2:00 pm EST/ 11:00 am PST The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is hosting a webinar to discuss the proposed rule on new elevation standards for all new HUD-supported properties. The proposed rule would revise 24 CFR Part 55, Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands, to require that newly constructed or substantially improved (as defined in 24 CFR 55.2(b)(10)) structures be elevated two or three feet above the site’s base flood elevation (also called '100-year floodplain'). In addition, the proposed rule would enlarge the horizontal floodplain area to reflect the vertical increase for projects processed under Part 55. Informational webinar: Thursday, December 8th at 2:00pm (Eastern Time)
Questions? Contact Hilary Atkin, Environmental Clearance Officer, HUD’s Office of Native American Programs at (202) 402-3427 or visit HUD Environmental Review website Webinar: Hosting an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer to work on community climate resilience projects- November 10, 2016 @ 2:00. The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and the BIA Climate Office are partnering to identify Tribes and Tribal organizations wishing to host a VISTA volunteer to work on community climate resilience projects. Volunteers can serve as a resource to help provide capacity for community-driven projects that address pressing local climate change concerns. Through the Tribal Resiliency initiative, AmeriCorps VISTA will cover the cost of the VISTA stipend and other benefits volunteers receive. See an example of a current announcement for a Resilient VISTA volunteer to help the Fon du Lac Tribal and Community College in collaboration the the Fon du Lac Band. Please join the webinar to learn more about how to apply, or contact Al Kuslikis: akusklikis@aihec.org. WHEN: 2:00pm Eastern, Thursday, November 10, 2016 NEW ONAP Program Guidance 2016-06 Published. ICDBG Imminent Threat Program The Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Imminent Threat (IT) program guidance describes the criteria for the program, includes examples of funded applications, and explains the procedures for requesting such funds. IT grants are intended to alleviate or remove imminent threats to health or safety, in that an emergency situation exists or would exist if the problem were not addressed. The grant ceiling for imminent threat requests is $450,000, or $900,000 for Presidentially declared disasters. Click Here for full text. ONAP Program Guidance 2016-05: Tribal HUD-VASH record keeping at initial occupancy This program guidance provides guidance to Tribal HUD-Veterans Supportive Housing Program (Tribal HUD-VASH) recipients concerning record keeping at initial occupancy of eligible Native American veterans. Read the full text Here. Assets for Independence IDA program funds available Nonprofits can apply by October 31, 2016 or April 3, 2017 for grants to administer projects that provide individual development accounts and related services to low-income individuals. State, local, and tribal governments, as well as CDFIs and credit unions, are also eligible in specific situations. Participants can use savings for a first home, a business, or post-secondary education or training. Request an application package at http://idaresources.acf.hhs.gov/apply or from info@IDAresources.org. Webinar on Tribal Housing Funding Opportunities and Indoor Air Quality- Oct. 18th, 2:30pm EST The U.S. EPA Indoor Environments Division and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals are hosting “Preparing for FY17—Tribal Housing Funding Opportunities” as part of their Fall 2016 Tribal Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Healthy Homes Webinar Series. Participants will learn about innovative green and sustainable building design and projects from tribal building experts; learn how to be effective in gaining support from tribal council and tribal members; and will hear from federal tribal housing staff about upcoming fiscal year 2017 opportunities in federal tribal housing funding. The webinar will include a presentation by ONAP. This webinar is intended for tribal healthy housing professionals and public health and environmental professionals interested in healthy tribal housing. The webinar is taking place on October 18, 2016, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. EDT. Register Here. BIA issues Contract Guide for Mortgage Lending Attention Section 184 Partners: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), has issued a Contract Guide for Mortgage Lending, published September 2016. This guides provides guidance for mortgage lending in Indian Country, including on trust and allotted lands: Guide includes:
Secretary Castro reflects on his experiences in Native communities and writes “Equipping Native Youth to Become the Leaders of Tomorrow”
On September 23-27th, 120 Native Youth Ambassadors, ages 14-17, representing 30 tribes, participated in HUD’s National Native Youth Summit in Washington, DC, with the goal of developing, and encouraging the next generation of Native community leaders. Youth Ambassadors met with national leaders, examined the history and inner workings of federal government, and shared experiences and perspectives from their communities. They explored the impact that homes have on community, culture, health, education, conservation, and the environment. Pictures from their visit with HUD Secretary Julián Castro can be viewed here.
Secretary Castro participated in a conversation moderated by Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about Choctaw Nation’s Connect Home success. Chief Batton’s tribe is leading the way for other tribal communities to narrow the digital divide. Pictures of the event here and essay from the Secretary. The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) announces Online Health Care Application The Department of Veterans affairs has published a Fact Sheet outlining new steps VA is taking to improve Veterans access to health care. The fastest and easiest way to apply for enrollment by enrolling onlineat https://www.vets.gov/healthcare/apply/.
View Archive - What’s New on Codetalk Highlights Questions? Contact the ONAP Web manager. |
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HUD welcomes 120 Youth Ambassadors to the 2016 National Native Youth Summit
HUD Secretary Julián Castro attends the 8thAnnual Tribal Nations Conference
