Role of Tribal Leaders
As Tribal Leaders, your leadership skills and vision are needed to create safe and prosperous communities. This page is designed to provide you with the tools and information you need to make informed decisions regarding 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
- 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.
Consultation
HUD acknowledges the sovereignty of federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, and is committed to operate within a government-to-government relationship to allow tribes the maximum amount of responsibility for administering their housing programs. To accomplish this objective, HUD consults with American Indian and Alaska Native governments, TDHEs and national Indian and Native Hawaiian organizations when developing legislation, regulations and policies that affect tribes.
Negotiated Rule Making
The regulations governing the Indian Housing Block Grant and Title VI Loan Guarantee programs are located in part 1000 of HUD's regulations in title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations. In accordance with section 106 of NAHASDA, HUD developed the regulations with active tribal participation and using the procedures of the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 561-570).
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)
National Tribal Leaders Directory
Directory of contact information of Tribal Leaders 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)
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.
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.
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. View a list of current opportunities available.
Questions? Contact the ONAP Web manager.