Tribal Grantees Get Disaster Rule-Breaking Powers in 2026
Published Date: 6/10/2026
Notice
Summary
In 2026, Native American housing programs hit by Presidentially Declared Disasters get special breaks from usual rules to help families recover faster. Tribal grantees can use these flexibilities to speed up relief efforts and manage funds more easily, starting January 1, 2026. This means more support and less red tape for communities rebuilding after disasters.
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
ICDBG Emergency Payments Extended to Six Months
Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) grantees may use grant funds to make emergency payments for low- and moderate-income families (for food, medicine, clothing, rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.) for up to six months instead of the usual three months. This six-month flexibility is effective for one year beginning on the date the ICDBG grantee notifies HUD it will use the waiver.
ICDBG Can Fund New Housing Construction
For disaster recovery in 2026, ICDBG grantees may directly use grant funds for new housing construction (normally restricted), when the new construction is reasonable and necessary to address disaster damage. This waiver is effective for one year after the grantee notifies HUD it will use the flexibility.
Allow IHBG Projects to Exceed Cost Caps
If your tribe uses Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funds after a Presidentially Declared Disaster in 2026, your housing projects may exceed HUD's usual Total Development Cost (TDC) limit by up to 20% without prior HUD approval. A tribe can exceed that 20% level only with written HUD approval, and the tribe must keep documentation that the homes remain for IHBG-eligible families.
IHBG Can Serve Middle-Income Disaster Victims
For tribes in Presidentially Declared Disaster areas in 2026, IHBG grantees may exceed the usual 10% cap on serving families at 80–100% of Area Median Income (AMI) and may also provide temporary assistance to families up to 120% of AMI without HUD approval, provided the assistance is disaster-related and temporary.
ICDBG Public Services Cap Lifted for Disasters
ICDBG grantees in Presidentially Declared Disaster areas may exceed the usual 15% cap on spending for public services to provide disaster-related supports such as food, bottled water, emergency shelter, and case management. This suspension is available for one year after the ICDBG grantee notifies HUD it will use the flexibility.
NHHBG: Help Middle-Income Native Hawaiians
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) may use Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) funds to provide temporary homeownership-related assistance to Native Hawaiian families impacted by a Presidentially Declared Disaster who have household incomes up to 120% of Area Median Income. Assistance must be temporary and documented to avoid duplication of benefits.
Short-Term Income Self-Certification for IHBG
IHBG grantees may accept income self-certification by email for families displaced by a Presidentially Declared Disaster. This income-verification flexibility is available for six months starting on the date the IHBG grantee notifies HUD it will use the waiver.
Short-Term Income Self-Certification for NHHBG
DHHL may accept income self-certification by email for Native Hawaiian families whose income documents were destroyed or made inaccessible by a Presidentially Declared Disaster. This income-verification flexibility is effective for six months from the date DHHL notifies HUD it will use the waiver.
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