About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

GAO-15-353R 1 (2015-03-10)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaairy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: G A O U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 441 G St. N.W. Washington, DC 20548 March 10, 2015 The Honorable Blaine Luetkemeyer Chairman Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance Committee on Financial Services House of Representatives Data Use and Regulatory Status of the Indian Housing Block Grant Program Dear Mr. Chairman: American Indian and Alaska Native populations (Native Americans) primarily receive federal assistance for low-income housing through the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program. IHBG is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and was established by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).1 Under NAHASDA, IHBG allocates funds to tribes using a formula, which includes a component that assesses a tribe's need for affordable housing activities (need component). To make funding allocations to tribal entities, the IHBG program has largely relied on the 2000 U.S. decennial census data, which included information on population counts, housing, and income characteristics for Native Americans. Recent changes in how census data are collected and whether the decennial census still serves as the best source of data have been discussed during recent negotiated rulemaking meetings-a collaborative process used by HUD staff and tribal representatives to develop regulations for the I HBG program. In 2010, we reported that NAHASDA's first appropriation for the IHBG program in fiscal year 1998 was $592 million.2 In 2014, we reported that average annual funding for the program was approximately $667 million between 1998 and 2013.3 The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 has appropriated $650 million for the IHBG program. You asked us to look at the data used for the allocation of funds for HUD's IHBG program. This report presents descriptive information addressing (1) factors that may affect the allocation of IHBG funds, (2) data used in the need component of the IHBG funding formula, and (3) activities of negotiated rulemaking associated with data used to allocate IHBG funds. To conduct our work, we 0 reviewed NAHASDA and relevant program regulations and guidance; 1Pub. L. No. 104-330, 110 Stat. 4016 (1996) (codified, as amended, at 25 U.S.C. § 4101 et seq.). 2GAO, Native American Housing: Tribes Generally View Block Grant Program as Effective, but Tracking of Infrastructure Plans and Investments Needs Improvements, GAO-1 0-326 (Washington, D.C.: Feb. 25, 2010). 3GAO, Native American Housing: Additional Actions Needed to Better Support Tribal Efforts, GAO-14-255 (Washington, D.C.: Mar. 27, 2014). GAO-1 5-353R Indian Housing Block Grant Program Page 1

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most