Nearly $285 million in HUD funding has been awarded to Tribal entities in Alaska over the past two years with more funding on the way
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman was in Alaska this week to discuss Tribal housing supply with local leaders and organizations across the state. Over the past two years, HUD has awarded Alaskan Tribal entities and Native Villages unprecedented funding, a testament to the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on equity and inclusion.
The Deputy Secretary delivered remarks at the Association of Alaska Housing Authorities and Enterprise Community Partners’ Housing Innovation Summit where she announced an increase in the number of Tribal entities participating in a HUD program that provides rental assistance and supportive services to American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. While in Anchorage, she met with a variety of housing partners and leaders including the Alaska Association of Housing Authorities, the Knik Tribal Council, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Covenant House, and the Cook Inlet Housing Authority.
Deputy Secretary Todman also visited the YK Delta to meet with the Association of Village Council Presidents Regional Housing Authority (AVCP RHA) and the Orutsararmiut Native Council in Bethel and traveled upriver by boat to the Tribal Villages of Oscarville and Napakiak to meet with Tribal leaders in their homes and learn about their housing challenges.
“I met so many passionate and outcome-focused leaders who told me about Alaska’s unique challenges – and opportunities – when it comes to building homes, repairing them, and creating more resilient communities in the face of climate change,” said Deputy Secretary Todman. “From innovations around constructing homes in cold climates, to working with the realities of building in remote communities with restricted construction windows, the Alaskan housing community are true innovators. HUD’s job now is to improve upon the resources and technical assistance we provide and make sure it’s working as efficiently as possible for the communities who need them.”
During a plenary session at the Alaska Housing Innovation Summit, Bryan Butcher, CEO/Executive Director of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation applauded the Deputy Secretary’s visit by saying, “The Deputy Secretary is today visiting Bethel, Oscarville and Napakiak – communities outside of Anchorage, inaccessible by road and each with unique challenges and opportunities. We know there is no substitute for on-the-ground experience, and we should recognize her and her team for their interest in learning about the people, their traditional ways of life, and the environment where they live day-to-day.”
Over the past two years, HUD has awarded nearly $285 million in Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) formula funding to Tribal entities in Alaska, with more funding on the way. In FY 2022, HUD awarded $115 million in IHBG formula funds, which is a 22-percent increase from FY 2021. In
FY 2021, Tribal entities also received $64 million in IHBG-ARP funding, over $10 million in IHBG competitive funding, and over $86 million in ICDBG-ARP funding.
HUD’s Office of Native American Programs recently published two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Up to $129 million will be awarded with the FY 2022 IHBG Competitive NOFO. Applications are due in November. Up to $92 million will be awarded with the FY 2022 ICDBG NOFO. Applications are due in October.