this U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a final rule Friday to expand support for housing counseling services within Native American tribal communities.
In a new final rule published in the Federal Register, HUD outlines housing counselor certification requirements for meetings related to the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) and Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) programs. The department explained that previously, certain counseling requirements associated with these grant programs faced barriers that could significantly impact the ability to connect with tribal borrowers.
“Housing counseling programs are an important tool to help improve financial literacy, especially for low- and moderate-income households,” HUD said in the rule’s announcement. “This could be the key to ensuring potential homebuyers’ long-term success and tenants avoiding eviction.
“With this rule, HUD is removing previous barriers to tribes, tribal-designated housing entities, and other tribal entities participating in the HUD housing counseling program. HUD anticipates that this rule will expand the number of HUD-certified housing counselors to meet the unique needs of tribal communities.
It explained that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) developed the new rules in consultation and hearings with multiple tribes. Tribes offered their perspectives on the obstacles they face and how the rules could be changed to better meet their needs.
“This rule is the result of a strong collaboration between HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling, Native American Programs, and tribal representatives to remove longstanding barriers to providing robust and culturally sensitive housing counseling to tribal members,” HUD Deputy Asst. said Secretary David Berenbaum. “We look forward to welcoming additional tribal entities to the HUD Housing Advisory Network.”
federal housing administration Commissioner Julia Gordon said those with more first-hand knowledge of the living conditions of these clients will be better equipped to serve these communities.
“Removing this barrier means more tribal individuals and families can receive services from a trusted source within their community—a source that understands their unique cultural perspectives and housing needs,” Gordon said. “For too long, tribal members have been underserved in the real estate market.”
The rule will take effect on July 12, 2024.[s] A new category of HUD-certified housing counselors, called HUD-certified tribal housing counselors, and a new tribal housing counselor certification exam will be administered specifically for tribes, including an examination of distinctions in fair housing laws relevant to tribes and the unique status of tribes Make adjustments to trust lands,” HUD said in its announcement.
The final rule provides for a four-year transition period intended to “allow Tribal recipients sufficient time to ensure that housing counselors can become certified,” and HUD will also require that counseling related to IHBG or ICDBG funds be conducted by HUD counselors – Already Certification.
HUD will also “provide additional training for counselors certified to provide housing counseling for the IHBG and ICDBG programs” and will “modify study materials for the Housing Counselor Certification Examination to accommodate content customized to Tribes.”
Last month, HUD announced $1.1 billion in funding for tribal housing and community development under the IHBG program to be distributed nationwide. In April, HUD announced a new rule designed to strengthen the department’s Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, with the goal of increasing lender participation and ensuring access to potential Native American beneficiaries.
