Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/01/02/2014-30692/housing-improvement-program
Timestamp: 2019-08-25 14:16:41
Document Index: 277159359

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A Proposed Rule by the Indian Affairs Bureau on 01/02/2015
13-21 (9 pages)
N. Drafting Information
Subpart A—Determining Eligibility
Subpart B—Applying for Assistance
Subpart C—Receiving Assistance
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-30692 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-30692
—Federal rulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov. The rule is listed under the agency name “Bureau of Indian Affairs.” The rule has been assigned Docket ID: BIA-2014-0004.
—Mail or hand delivery: Elizabeth K. Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action, Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C St. NW., Mail Stop 3642-MIB, Washington, DC 20240.
Mr. Les Jensen, Division of Housing Assistance, Bureau of Indian Affairs at (907) 586-7397. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1 (800) 877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. You may also view the information collection request as submitted to OMB at www.reginfo.gov.
Category A—for repair of existing homes
Category B—for renovation of existing homes
Category C-1—for construction of replacement homes
Category C-2—for new housing.
Currently, priority ranking is based on total numeric value (points) received under the ranking factors. The ranking factors are based on the applicant's annual household income, whether there is an aged person living in the house, whether there is a disabled Start Printed Page 14person living in the house, and family size. There are a certain number of points available for each of the ranking factors. Each applicant receives a certain number of points under each of the ranking factors. The proposed rule would update the current ranking factors, as shown in the table below.
Annual Household Income Increase the income guidelines from 125 percent to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines Those within 150 percent of the poverty level would be eligible, allowing the HIP to assist the very needy, in addition to the extremely needy.
Age Increase the age requirement from 55 years old to 62 years old Align with the social security age for retirement.
Age (continued) Add one point for every year above 62 years old, and set a maximum of 15 points (currently, there is no maximum) To provide tribes with flexibility to better address lengthy waiting lists of tribal members awaiting housing assistance.
Disability Reduce the number of applicants to one per household and decrease the maximum number of points available for this category to 10 points (currently, the maximum is 20 points) To provide tribes with flexibility to better address lengthy waiting lists of tribal members awaiting housing assistance.
Family Size To provide that one dependent gets three points, and each additional dependent gets 3 points. Increase points for 5 or more dependents to a maximum of 15 points (currently, the maximum for 6 or more dependents is 5) To provide tribes with flexibility to better address lengthy waiting lists of tribal members awaiting housing assistance.
The proposed rule would add new ranking factors for homelessness, overcrowding, and dilapidated housing—each with a maximum of 10 points. These additional ranking factors are intended to better prioritize applicants who are homeless or in overcrowded or dilapidated housing conditions, by specifically examining whether these factors are present.
Under the HIP, the recipient may be required to enter a “payback agreement” which provides that the recipient will have to pay back the entire amount of funding received or a portion thereof if the recipient sells the home within a certain period of time. If the payback period expires, no payback is required and the money is considered a grant. Currently, for Category B, the payback period is 5 years. So, for example, a family that receives HIP funding for a home must repay the funding if the family sells the home within 5 years of receiving the funding. The proposed rule would lengthen the Category B payback period to 10 years. So, for example, a family that receives HIP funding for a home must repay the funding if the family sells the home within 10 years. Category C payback period remains the same, 20 years.
Current and proposed square footages (SF)
2 bedrooms 900 sf to 1,000 sf 100 sf.
3 bedrooms 1,050 sf to 1,200 sf 50 sf.
4 bedrooms 1,305 sf to 1,400 sf 95 sf.
The Department will be hosting consultation sessions with Indian tribes on this proposed rule; details on the times and locations will be posted at the following Web site when they become available: http://www.bia.gov/​WhoWeAre/​AS-IA/​ORM/​HIP/​index.htm.
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that this rule is not significant. E.O. 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while calling Start Printed Page 15for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. The E.O. directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent with these requirements.
Under the criteria in Executive Order 12630, this proposed rule does not affect individual property rights protected by the Fifth Amendment nor does it involves a compensable “taking.” A takings implication assessment is not required.
In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, “Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments,” Executive Order 13175 (59 FR 22951, November 6, 2000), and 512 DM 2, we have held several listening sessions with representatives of federally recognized tribes throughout the development of this proposed rule. In 2010, BIA staff implementing the HIP program opened a dialogue with Indian tribes because tribes indicated that the program as structured was not allowing them to make progress on their waiting lists of members with housing needs. The BIA has since held several listening sessions and has incorporated comments received during those listening sessions into this proposed rule. In addition, we are hosting tribal consultation sessions, as listed above, in Section III.
Comments on the information collection requirements should address: Start Printed Page 16(1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the HIP, including the practical utility of the information to BIA; (2) the accuracy of BIA's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
If you believe that we have not met these requirements, send us comments by one of the methods listed in the “COMMENTS” section. To better help us revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as possible. For example, you should tell us which sections or paragraphs are unclearly written, which sections or sentences are too long, the sections where you believe lists or tables would be useful, etc.
The primary authors of this document are Les Jensen, Office of Indian Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.
Am I eligible for the Housing Improvement Program?
What housing services are available?
When do I qualify for Category A assistance?
When do I qualify for Category B assistance?
When do I qualify for Category D assistance?
What if I don't receive funding?
How long will I have to wait for work on my house?
How are work plans prepared?
How will I find out what work is to be done?
How are construction contractors or companies selected and paid?
Do I have to move out while work is done?
How can I be sure that construction work meets minimum standards?
How will I find out that the work is done?
Is my Federal government-assisted house eligible for services?
I have a mobile home; am I eligible for help?
Can HIP resources be combined with other available resources?
Can I appeal actions taken under this part?
§ 256.1
Category A means the HIP funding category for minor repair not to exceed limits in § 256.7 of this part.
Category B means the HIP funding category for renovation not to exceed limits in § 256.7 of this part.
Category C-2 means the HIP funding category for owned land as defined in § 256.13(g)(1)-(5).
Category D means the HIP funding category for down payment assistance as defined in § 256.11(a)-(c).
Disabled means having a physical or intellectual impairment that Start Printed Page 17substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Overcrowding means a number of occupants per house that exceed limits identified in § 256.11.
§ 256.3
(b) Every American Indian or Alaska Native who meets the basic eligibility criteria defined in § 256.6 may participate in the HIP.
§ 256.4
§ 256.6
(c) Your annual income is 150 percent or less of the Department of Health and Human Services poverty income guidelines, which are available from your servicing housing office or the Department of the Interior Web site at www.bia.gov;​
(d) Your present housing is substandard as defined in § 256.2;
(e) You meet the ownership requirements for the assistance needed, as defined in § 256.8, § 256.9, or § 256.10;
(g) You have not previously received assistance relating to categories as defined in § 256.9 and § 256.10; § 256.11; and
Four categories of assistance are available under the HIP, as outlined in the following table.Start Printed Page 18
Category A Up to $7,500 in safety or sanitation repairs to the house in which you live, which will remain substandard. Can be provided more than once, but not for more than one house and the total assistance cannot exceed $7,500. (For Alaska, freight cost not to exceed 100 percent of the cost of materials can be added to the cost of the project.) § 256.8
Category B Up to $60,000 in renovation, which will bring your house to standard housing condition, as defined in § 256.2 of this part. Can only be provided once. (For Alaska, freight cost not to exceed 100 percent of the cost of materials can be added to the cost of the project.) § 256.9
Category C A modest house that meets the criteria in § 256.10 of this part and the definition of standard housing in § 256.2 of this part and whose costs are determined by and limited to the criteria in § 256.19(b) and (c) of this part. Can only be provided once. (For Alaska, freight cost not to exceed 100 percent of the cost of materials can be added to the cost of the project.) § 256.10
Category D A down payment toward the purchase of a modest house that meets the definition of standard housing in § 256.2 § 256.11
§ 256.8
§ 256.9
(1) You own the house in which you are living as defined in § 256.14(g)(1)-(5) The house cannot be brought up to applicable building code standards and to standard housing condition for $60,000 or less. (For Alaska, freight cost not to exceed 100 percent of the cost of materials can be added to the cost of the project) [No additional requirement].
Number of bedrooms 1
Total square footage 1 (maximum)
Up to 7 persons 3 1200
Over 7 persons 4 1400
1 Determined by the servicing housing office, based on composition of family. Total living space must comply with applicable American Disabilities Act requirements.
§ 256.12
§ 256.13
1 Annual household income: Must include income of all persons counted in Factors 2, 3, 4. Income includes earned income, royalties, and one-time income. A household with an income 151 percent of more of the Federal poverty guidelines is ineligible for HIP Income as a percentage of the Federal poverty guidelines: 0-25 26-50 Points: 25 20
2 Aged person: Person age 62 or older and must be living in the house. Maximum points awarded under this factor is 15, regardless of the number of years over age 62. Thus, a resident that is 78 or older will add 15 points to the score Years of age: Less than 62 62 and older Points: 0 1 point per year over age 62
3 Disabled individual: One or more disabled persons living in the house. Must fit under established definition of “disabled as in § 256.2.” Maximum points awarded under this factor is 10, regardless of the number of disabled residents If a there is a disabled resident 10
4 Dependent Children: Must be under the age of 18 or such other age established for purposes of parental support by tribal or state law (if any). Must live in the house and not be married. Maximum points awarded under this factor is 15 Number of dependent children: 1 2 3 4 5 or more Points: 3 6 9 12 15
5 Other conditions: • Homeless • Overcrowded conditions • Dilapidated house (must meet definition of dilapidated as defined in § 256.2) If any of the three conditions is present 10
Maximum points awarded under this factor is 10, regardless of whether more than one condition is present
6 Applicants with an approved financing package If applicant has approved financing 30
Your servicing housing office will inform you whether you will receive funds in writing within 45 days after it completes the list required by § 256.14(c).
§ 256.16
§ 256.17
§ 256.18
§ 256.19
(1) Meet the occupancy and square footage criteria in § 256.10 (d); and
§ 256.20
§ 256.21
§ 256.22
(a) A tribe that operates the HIP under an Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act agreement may renovate or replace your house. In that case, the tribe will not select or pay another vendor for the repairs or construction.
(b) If a tribe that operates the HIP decides not to renovate or replace your house itself, your servicing housing office must follow approved procurement regulations, Federal procurement or other Bureau-approved tribal procurement policy.
§ 256.24
§ 256.25
§ 256.26
§ 256.27
§ 256.28
Yes. If you meet the eligibility criteria in § 256.6 and funding is available, you can receive any of the HIP services identified in § 256.7. If you request Category B services and your mobile home has exterior walls less than three inches thick, you must be considered for Category C services.
§ 256.29
Yes. HIP resources may be supplemented with other available resources (e.g., in-kind assistance; tribal or housing authority; and any other leveraging mechanism identified in § 256.3(d)) to increase the number of HIP recipients.
§ 256.30
[FR Doc. 2014-30692 Filed 12-31-14; 8:45 am]