Seeking Tribal Input on IHBG Competitive Program Evaluation
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, that became law on March 9, 2024, directed the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to evaluate the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive program. The purpose of this letter is twofold: (1) to inform you that this evaluation will occur with data collection anticipated to begin in 2025, and (2) to request your input on the focus and scope of the evaluation.
In 2018, Congress appropriated $100 million for the IHBG program to be awarded on a competitive basis. Since then, Congress has appropriated a total of $850 million for this program. In FY 2024, Congress appropriated funds to PD&R to evaluate the program. Before PD&R begins its evaluation, the Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) is seeking Tribal feedback on the evaluation of the IHBG Competitive program. We will provide this information to PD&R so they can incorporate it into the evaluation research design. We are interested in receiving feedback, for example, on the following questions:
• What should the evaluation of the program focus on?
• What research questions should the evaluation answer?
• What are the key components that should be included in the evaluation of the program?
• Who should the researchers talk to in order to understand the program and ways to improve it?
• What kinds of information should the researchers try to get from the people they talk to?
• How might you use the findings of an evaluation of the program?
• What are some local issues or challenges that Tribes face that HUD should consider when drafting the NOFO?
• What other kinds of information about housing in Indian Country would it be useful to include in the final report on the program?
Input from Tribal leaders is essential to the development of HUD’s research projects in Indian Country. We greatly appreciate your thoughts on what the evaluation of the IHBG Competitive program should include. Please submit written comments on the evaluation’s focus and scope to consultation@hud.gov on or before July 1, 2024.
