The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $83 million in Indian Community Block Grant-American Rescue Plan (ICDBG-ARP) grants to 74 tribal communities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is the third round of ICDBG-ARP awards, underscoring the Biden administration’s commitment to delivering equitable COVID-19 relief to tribal communities. HUD said the money will help protect the health and safety of their communities, particularly low- and moderate-income individuals and families, by expanding access to safe housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities.
“It is imperative that we continue providing tribal communities with resources needed to protect the health and safety of their communities,” HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman said in a release. “With the funding HUD is awarding today, we remain diligent in continuing our mission to ensure that every person has the security of a healthy home and community. HUD will continue to strengthen partnerships with Tribal communities to ensure that all communities receive equitable relief.”
HUD previously awarded $74 million in ICDBG-ARP grants to 68 tribal communities in November and $52 million in ICDBG-ARP grants to 49 tribal communities in December. The American Rescue Plan included a total of $280 million for the Indian Community Development Block Grant program. HUD said it will announce additional ICDBG-ARP awards on a rolling basis.
The American Rescue Plan Act provides a total of $750 million in HUD resources to Indian Country to support the continued fight against COVID-19. In 2021, HUD made a historic $450 million investment in Indian Housing Block Grants to tribes across the country and invested $5 million in pandemic relief for Native Hawaiians.
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