The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a final rule to increase affordable housing for Native Hawaiian families. This rule is part of the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) program. It aims to provide rental assistance to low-income Native Hawaiian families living on the Hawaiian Home Lands. This action aligns with HUD’s goal to provide quality, affordable housing for Hawaiian communities.
The final rule, ‘Implementing Rental Housing Assistance for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program’, modifies HUD regulations. It clarifies the use of program funds for rental housing assistance. This change aligns with Title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA). NHHBG funds can now be used for project-based or tenant-based rental assistance, and for the operation and maintenance of project units occupied by eligible Native Hawaiian families.
The changes also aim to ensure compliance with the NHHBG program’s statutory requirements. They also promote consistency between NHHBG and HUD’s Indian Housing Block Grant program regulations. Richard J. Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, stated that these changes will strengthen the NHHBG program. They will also enable the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to serve more Native Hawaiian families.