Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) - Competitive Grant Program | FR 6400 N 48

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR 6400 N 48

The Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Grant Program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding opportunity that supplements the regular, formula-based IHBG funding authorized under Title I of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA), as amended (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.). Through this program, eligible Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs) can apply for additional grant dollars to support a wide range of affordable housing efforts in Indian Country. The core purpose is to help develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing in safe and healthy environments on Indian reservations and other eligible Indian areas, with the statutory requirement that funded activities primarily benefit low-income Indian families.

This particular competitive funding round was made possible by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94), which provided a total of $100 million specifically for competitive awards to eligible IHBG recipients, on top of the standard formula grants. HUD indicated it may transfer up to $1 million from this amount to support program administration and oversight. The opportunity is framed as a response to documented and ongoing housing challenges in tribal areas, including severe overcrowding and the presence of physically deteriorated housing. HUD pointed to its January 2017 study on housing needs in tribal areas, which found that conditions for many tribal households are substantially worse than for U.S. households overall, and estimated that 68,000 additional units would have been needed just in the 2013 to 2015 period to reduce overcrowding and replace deteriorated units.

HUDs funding priorities under this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) are strongly oriented toward tangible, shovel-ready improvements that expand or preserve housing supply. In line with the appropriations language, HUD gives priority to projects that spur new construction and rehabilitation, while also weighing demonstrated need and the applicants administrative capacity to carry out the work. New affordable housing construction is particularly encouraged because it directly increases the number of units available for low-income Indian families and addresses the broader housing shortage. At the same time, HUD encourages rehabilitation projects that extend the useful life of existing affordable units and reduce substandard conditions, as well as acquisition of existing housing that increases housing stock. The NOFA also recognizes that housing development often depends on enabling infrastructure, so it encourages necessary affordable housing-related infrastructure projects that support future construction or rehabilitation. While these areas are emphasized for funding priority, applicants may also seek support for other eligible NAHASDA activities, as long as they fit program rules and meet the low-income benefit requirement.

From a planning and strategy standpoint, HUD signals that it is looking for projects that fit into a bigger picture rather than stand-alone efforts. Tribes and TDHEs are encouraged to propose projects that connect to a comprehensive community plan to address local housing conditions, including overcrowding and deteriorated units, and to show long-term thinking about how the proposed investment aligns with future infrastructure needs, economic development opportunities, and related community goals. This emphasis reflects HUDs intent to fund strong, viable projects that can credibly move the needle on well-documented needs.

On the competition mechanics, applications that make it through initial screening and threshold review are formally scored and rated. Awards are then made in rank order based on application scores, which means the process is structured like a typical discretionary, merit-based competition rather than an allocation formula. HUD also reserves the right to issue a supplemental or independent NOFA if needed, for example to ensure all appropriated funds are ultimately awarded. Program administration is handled by HUDs Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) within the Office of Public and Indian Housing, and grantees must follow NAHASDA requirements and HUDs implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 1000.

Key opportunity details from the published source include: the opportunity is discretionary and uses a grant instrument; the primary activity area is housing; the CFDA number is 14.867; the listed eligible applicant type is "Others" with eligibility clarified in the full announcement text (in practice, tied to eligible IHBG recipients under NAHASDA, namely tribes and TDHEs); the total competitive funding pool is $100 million; the expected number of awards is about 20; and the maximum award ceiling is $5,000,000 per grant. The opportunity was created August 11, 2020, with an original closing date of December 10, 2020 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern.

• The US Department of Housing and Urban Development in the housing sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) - Competitive Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 14.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 11, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 10, 2020 The application deadline is 115959 pm Eastern Standard time on. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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