Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Grant Program
Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Grant Program
About
In January 2017, HUD released a study entitled, “Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas: A Report From the Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs.” Among the findings, the study found that tribal households are substantially worse than other U.S. households, with overcrowding in tribal areas being especially severe. The study noted that in the 2013-2015 period alone, 68,000 new units would have been necessary to help eliminate overcrowding and replace physically deteriorating units.
Eligible Uses
Under the program, eligible Indian tribes and tribally-designated housing entities (TDHEs) receive grants to carry out a range of affordable housing activities. Grant funds may be used to develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing in safe and healthy environments on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas, and carry out other affordable housing activities. Grant funds must be used to primarily benefit low-income Indian families.
Grant Award
Minimum: $500,000
Maximum: $7,500,000
Eligible
Recipients
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Restrictions
Unknown
Due Date
Aug 29, 2024
Agency
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Link
Materials Needed
Unknown
Application Difficulty
Unknown
Having stable housing is essential for economic and social stability. Having high-quality, stable, integrated housing also makes all community residents safer and better able to thrive.
Evidence shows that having affordable, safe, and stable housing is essential for safer communities. Structural home repairs in low income housing results in decreased crime. In Philadelphia, housing repair intervention in low income neighborhoods resulted in a 21.9% decrease in crime. At the local level, increasing access to affordable housing by building more low-income housing units results in significant reductions in violent crime. Reducing socio-economic segregation of neighborhoods—such as through housing vouchers that enable low-income families to move to neighborhoods of opportunity—has been shown to reduce youth arrests for violent crime. A program to subsidize the construction of rental housing for low-income residents in high poverty areas was associated with a significant decline in robberies and aggravated assault.
Moreover, permanent housing subsidies have been found to reduce rates of intimate partner violence, especially for families with more complex psychological needs. Research shows that targeted interventions for children who have suffered from lead poisoning—including lead abatement, medical care, and public assistance—have long-term positive impacts, including a reduction in future arrests for violent offenses. Other research has found that having stable and safe housing decreases the likelihood of committing a crime. In Philadelphia, a project to remediate abandoned homes was associated with a 39 percent reduction in firearm assaults and, given the low cost associated with the remodels, returned hundreds of dollars for every dollar invested in the program.
In summary, ensuring that individuals have access to stable housing is the bedrock of community safety. Interventions which increase the size of the housing stock, improve its quality, subsidize rent, or otherwise make it possible for more people and families to be safely housed will go a long way towards reducing violence and harm. This section will highlight several grant streams which can go towards ensuring more safe and stable housing in your community.
Grants.Gov Resources
Applicant Training Videos (step-by-step guide on how to find grants, set up an account on grants.gov, and submit an application)
Applicant FAQ page
Other Resources
Community Toolbox’s Applying For Grants Toolkit (Outline of process + example applications)
Q: What is community safety?
A: We use the term “community safety” as well as “non-carceral safety” to indicate an approach to reducing violence and harm that invests in people over punishment. This can include unarmed civilian first responders and community violence prevention, but must also center preventative and root-caused focused solutions such as investments in schools, healthcare, and the environment. These solutions not only create holistic safety by improving well-being, they have been directly tied to reductions in violence.
Q: How do the grants in the American Rescue Plan and other recent bills fit into this database?
A: This database contains grants contained both in specific legislation (like the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act, and the Inflation Reduction act) but it focuses primarily on grants funded annually through the federal budget process. Please see our resources specifically on ARPA and IIJA for more information on funding opportunities in those bills.
Q: Where should I go if I have additional questions?
A: Feel free to reach out to samwashington@civilrightscorps.org with questions or comments. If you’d like to suggest a grant, please fill out this form.