Weekly Update & Tribal Housing News

This week’s major new development is an interagency proposal to extend the Tribal Build America Buy America manufactured-products waiver, but only through December 31, 2026. Comments are due November 23. HUD issued no new Dear Tribal Leader Letter or PIH Notice. Two previously announced Tribal input deadlines arrive November 2.

Immediate deadlines and actions

Consequential developments

New BABA waiver extension proposed

The October 23 notice would extend through December 31 the manufactured-products portion of the multiagency Tribal waiver for federal financial assistance from HUD, USDA, DOE, FEMA, and other participating agencies. The existing waiver covers Tribal funds obligated through September 30; the proposal is not yet final and would apply from the final waiver’s effective date. It does not waive BABA rules for iron, steel, or construction materials, and the separate waiver for awards and subawards of $2.5 million or less is unchanged. Read the Federal Register notice and HUD’s BABA resource page.

The agencies specifically request information about critical manufactured products, Native and domestic vendors, supply availability, and production capacity. NWIHA comments should document Northwest and Alaska freight costs, delivery times, bid failures, unavailable compliant products, and resulting unit or infrastructure delays, and should request a longer, administratively clear bridge beyond December 31. Members with funds obligated after September 30 should preserve sourcing records and consult ONAP before assuming the proposed protection applies.

Official correction on the Tribal veterans voucher bill

The Tribal Veterans Voucher Flexibility Act is H.R. 10753. Rep. Eli Crane introduced it on October 6, with Rep. Sharice Davids as original cosponsor, not October 2. It remains referred to House Financial Services. The bill would require HUD to establish, within 180 days of enactment, a voluntary Tribal HUD-VASH reallocation process; returning unused vouchers would not disadvantage a Tribe or TDHE in future allocations.

NWIHA should survey members on unused vouchers, unmet demand, available units, and VA case-management capacity. That evidence can help ensure vouchers are not returned when the real obstacle is staffing, housing supply, or service coordination.

Funding forecast correction

• FY2026 IHBG Competitive, PIH-2600-DC-0048, remains forecasted. Its September 16 estimated posting date has passed, so the forecasted December 16 due date is not a firm deadline. Review the current Grants.gov search results.
• The older ICDBG forecast PIH-2600-DC-0034 remains forecasted; its November 16 estimate is not an active application deadline. A later forecast, PIH-2600-DC-0023, estimates a December 16 posting and March 31, 2027 deadline, with approximately $90 million available. These remain planning dates until HUD publishes the NOFO.
• Despite an older September 30 listing, current HUD CodeTalk states that some FY2026 ICDBG Imminent Threat funding remains. It is noncompetitive and first-come, first-served. Members should work directly with their area ONAP and may request two hours of free targeted assistance at ONAPICDBG-ITOn-Call@hud.gov. Review HUD’s ICDBG program page.

CodeTalk implementation reminders

• Section 184’s upfront guarantee fee is now 1.5 percent, up from 1 percent, for firm commitments issued on or after October 1. The Skilled Workers Demonstration fee rose from zero to 1 percent. That adds $500 per $100,000 financed for standard Section 184 loans and $1,000 per $100,000 under the demonstration; counseling and borrower estimates should be updated. Review the October CodeTalk bulletin.
• HUD extended the Tribal and TDHE effective date of its environmental-review radon policy to January 1, 2027. Members should use the remaining time to update environmental-review scopes, budgets, and procurement documents. Review the applicable HUD notices.
• CodeTalk also recaps four FY2025 IHBG Competitive awards within NWIHA’s footprint – Lummi, Colville, Cow Creek, and Warm Springs – totaling approximately $19.85 million for 40 units. This is a recap, not a new award announcement. Review HUD’s IHBG Competitive page.

Legislative appropriations and advocacy watch

• NAHASDA: The operative Senate bill is now 5354, the revised successor to S. 4276. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee ordered it favorably reported with an amendment on September 23; no subsequent floor action was located. NWIHA legislative materials should reference S. 5354 and continue pressing for chamber action and full funding. See the Senate Committee update.
• Appropriations: FY2027 programs remain funded at FY2026 rates under Public Law 119-103 through December 11, 2026. Members should anticipate continued uncertainty around new awards, and NWIHA should prepare for year-end funding advocacy.
• GAO evidence for advocacy: GAO’s September testimony identified 30 federal Native housing programs but found that funding has not kept pace with construction costs; respondents primarily used funds to preserve existing housing, while operations and maintenance demands limited homelessness responses. GAO also highlighted widespread doubling-up and barriers to Tribal participation in Continuum of Care programs. NWIHA could strengthen this record with Northwest-specific cost, overcrowding, maintenance-backlog, and homelessness data.
• HUD-Interior MOU and NAIHC follow-up: The September 3 agreement remains an implementation framework for TAAMS access, training, consultation, and possible pilots; no later official pilot or rollout notice was found. Members should document Title Status Report and lease-processing times so NWIHA can press for measurable implementation and volunteer suitable pilot communities. Review HUD’s MOU announcement.

NAIHC dates and member resources

The NAIHC and HUD-ONAP courses below are listed as tuition-free; registration remains subject to available space. Confirm current details on the NAIHC training schedule.

Additional reusable resources

• Free HUD-approved technical assistance: Northwest ONAP – Tom Carney, carney@hud.gov, 206-220-6204. Alaska ONAP – Carla Vance, carla.t.vance@hud.gov, 907-677-9873. The current listing’s Alaska number ends in 9873, correcting the newsletter’s 9863. See HUD’s training and technical assistance page.
• VA NADL: VA’s current MOU list includes Metlakatla plus 19 Tribes in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Participating Tribes should promote NADL to eligible veterans; unlisted Tribes may contact nadl@va.gov or 888-349-7541 about an MOU covering land access, default, and foreclosure. Review the VA NADL Tribal MOU list.
• Standing rural programs: USDA Community Facilities applications are accepted year-round, and USDA Water and Waste Disposal applications are open on an ongoing basis. Members should contact the applicable state Rural Development office before preparing an application. Alaska’s BIA Housing Improvement Program page reports no fixed deadline and directs applicants through their Tribal office; timing elsewhere should be confirmed locally.

Mandatory HUD source check

HUD’s Dear Tribal Leader page still shows July 15 as its newest 2026 letter. The PIH Notices page still ends with PIH 2026-25, issued September 29; that notice concerns PHA Emergency Housing Voucher conversions and does not amend Tribal HUD-VASH, although it may matter to members partnering with PHAs serving EHV households.

This update is provided for informational and planning purposes. Members should confirm requirements against final federal notices and program guidance before taking formal action.