Housing Improvement Program

Department & Agency:           

Department of Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs

Agency Contact:                          

Not available at this time

Stimulus Funding:                     

$20 million 

Eligibility and Type:                 

Indian Tribes – Project Grants

Program Description:              

The Housing Improvement Program (HIP) is primarily devoted to providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing through renovations, repairs, or additions to existing homes.  The program will build an entire house in situations where no other program can meet the need in the immediate or near future. Technical assistance is provided to Indian tribes to establish housing plans and determine the extent and use of the Bureau's Housing Improvement Program. The program is restricted to use within reservations and approved tribal service areas.

Funding Guidance and Timelines:                                

The BIA will receive a total of $810.0 million under the Recovery Act, of which $20 million is for HIP.  The BIA is developing an initial spending plan for these stimulus funds, which is under development and has not yet been approved by the Secretary.  Our understanding of this plan as of February 20, 2009, is that the $20 million in HIP funding will be distributed to the existing list of HIP applicants.  There may be an effort to cluster among applicants to increase efficiency and provide more jobs. 

General Provisions:                   

Bill language of the Act (found in Title VII – Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies) provides that the General Provision section 1606 of the Act, which relates to wage rate requirements, shall not apply to tribal contracts entered into by the BIA with this appropriation.

Section 1610(b) of the Recovery Act allows the BIA to use existing self-determination contracting authorities with Indian tribes. However, it also requires the appropriate Secretary to “incorporate provisions to conform the agreement with the provisions of this Act regarding the timing for use of funds and transparency, oversight, reporting, and accountability, including review by the Inspectors General, the Accountability and Transparency Board, and Government Accountability Office, consistent with the objectives of this Act.”   The Interior Department is required to develop an Agency-wide Recovery Act plan and identify how they will incorporate these provisions into tribal self-determination contracts used for Recovery Act funds, pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget’s a memorandum dated February 18, 2009 with initial guidance for the implementation of the Recovery Act (page 16).

Funding Notices:                        

Not available at this time.

Technical Assistance:              

Not available at this time.