Indian Housing Resources – Overcrowded homes with multiple generations living under one roof and the lack of housing in Indian Country was a driving factor that led to the disparate impacts of the COVID- 19 pandemic in Native communities. Forty percent of on-reservation housing is considered substandard (compared to 6 percent outside of Indian Country) and nearly one-third of homes on reservations are overcrowded. Less than half of the homes on reservations are connected to public sewer systems, and 16 percent lack indoor plumbing. To help address the housing shortage in Native communities, the American Rescue Plan has delivered $450 million to Indian tribes through the Indian Housing Block Grant program and $280 million through the Indian Community Development Block Grants. Homeowner Assistance Fund Tribal Set-Aside – The Rescue Plan also includes a $500 million set- aside (5 percent) for Indian tribes within Treasury’s Homeowners Assistance Fund program (HAF). The program will deliver the funding directly to Indian tribes, which will then distribute funding to individuals and families for qualified housing expenses, which include: mortgage payment assistance, costs related to mortgage reinstatement or forbearance, principal and interest rate reductions, utilities assistance, internet and broadband service, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and homeowner / association fees. Treasury is using the Indian Housing Block Grant formula to allocate these funds to Tribal governments. The Treasury Department released guidance to help governments apply for the HAF, which can be found at this link: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/HAF-Guidance.pdf. The guidance provides definitions for the HAF, lists qualified expenses for homeowners to use the funds, provides links to required forms and reporting requirements for Tribal governments - including a “notice of funds request form”, found at the link below, which must be completed, signed by an authorized official of the Tribal government or Tribal housing authority, and returned to Treasury by November 15, 2021 at this link: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal- governments/homeowner-assistance-fund. Tribal governments approved to receive HAF payments must also enter into a financial assistance agreement with Treasury. Once the agreement is completed, the Tribe will receive 10 percent of the amount allocated to initiate planning for the Tribe’s HAF community plan. The remaining 90 percent of the allocation will be delivered when a Tribe submits its formal plan to use HAF funding for its community. Small Business Credit Initiative Set-Aside – The Rescue Plan includes a $500 million set-aside for tribal governments within the Small Business Credit Initiative. The program was authorized in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but it excluded direct funding to Tribal governments. The Rescue Plan corrects that oversight and offers direct funding to tribes to deliver capital investments in Native businesses. Governments will use the SBCI funding to develop financial programs to extend loans, provide guaranteed loans, and access to capital for small businesses. Treasury is using the IHBG formula to allocate the $500 million to Tribal governments. Tribal governments may apply individually or jointly. Treasury encourages Tribes with limited experience in small business financing to consider joint applications and working with third parties that have proven experience with small business financing programs. SSBCI program applications are due December 11, 2021. Treasury will release guidance on applications in the near future.
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