H.R. 5824: Tribal Affordable Housing Act

The Tribal Affordable Housing Act aims to provide funding for affordable housing on Tribal lands. Here's a detailed summary of the main points of the bill:

Grant Program

The bill requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a grant program specifically for eligible Indian Tribes and Tribally designated housing entities. This program will award grants on a competitive basis to aid in:

• Building new residential dwelling units on Tribal land.
• Adding necessary features to existing residential units, which could include improvements or essential additions to make the homes more livable.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for these grants, entities must meet the following criteria:

• Be an Indian Tribe or a Tribally designated housing entity.
• Have received less than $500,000 in federal allocations from HUD in at least one of the past five fiscal years under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996.

Budget and Appropriations

The bill authorizes an appropriation of $150 million for fiscal year 2026 and for each subsequent fiscal year to support the funding of this grant program.

Program Administration

Any grants awarded will be managed according to the guidelines established under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, ensuring that the grants are utilized effectively in accordance with existing housing assistance frameworks.

Definitions

Several terms in the bill are defined to clarify the scope and application of the grant program:

• Eligible entity: Refers to Indian Tribes or housing entities that meet the aforementioned funding criteria.
• Indian Tribe: Defined according to federal law, indicating a recognized Tribal entity under governing regulations.
• Necessary feature: Refers to any feature deemed essential by the Secretary for improving or constructing a residential unit.
• Residential dwelling unit: A dwelling unit intended for use as a home or residence for individuals or families.
• Tribally designated housing entity: Defined in the same terms as aforementioned, referring to entities that manage housing on behalf of a Tribe.

Implementation Timeline

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is required to award these grants no later than one year after the bill is enacted, ensuring prompt action to improve housing conditions in Tribal areas.

Relevant Companies

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