FAQ

No. Though TNHA does have programs that are only available to Alaska Natives and American Indians, we also offer a rental program for the general public. This program has different eligibility requirements. In additions, home sales are occasionally offered to the general public in a sealed bid auction.

No. There are instances, due to extraordinary circumstances, in which a waiver can be obtained to bypass the waitlist in a given program. These are limited to a catastrophic event, like a home lost to fire.

TNHA does not perform home repairs for the general public. Homebuyers currently in TNHA programs are responsible for their own home maintenance. Within certain program limits, TNHA will conduct repairs at the homebuyer’s expense or within a funded upgrade project.

TNHA rental units are maintained by TNHA.

Most of TNHA’s funding comes from the federal Indian Housing Block Grant. Some additional funding comes from state grants and fair-market rentals.

TNHA is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Arctic Slope Native Association. You can see who currently serves on our board in our About Us section.

TNHA’s programs are federally funded through HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) with very strict guidelines. Unfortunately, there is no flexibility outside of HUD rules or TNHA would be at risk of losing funding.

Contact the North Slope Borough Housing Department at (907) 852-0203 for more information on housing assistance offered through the borough.

Under the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), tribes were given the option to administer their own housing programs. The Native Village of Barrow and the Native Village of Point Hope chose this option.

Initially passed in 1996, and also known as P.L. 104-330 as amended, NAHASDA is the current federal statue that governs the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Indian housing programs. It is the vehicle to provide Federal assistance for Indian tribes in a manner that recognizes the right of tribal self-governance, and for other purposes.

A designation by the authority (i.e., tribal council or like body) for an Indian tribe of an entity other than the tribal government to receive grant amounts and provide assistance under this NAHASDA for affordable housing activities for Indians. (Sec. 4(21) (B) of NAHASDA)

The Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) is an annual allocation from the Department of Housing and Urban Development provided for the purposes of affordable housing activities to participating Tribes/TDHEs.

The IHBG is determined by a formula that takes into consideration two components: the current assisted housing stock (CAS) for that Tribe/TDHE; and what the need is for that Tribe/TDHE.

The recipient of the IHBG is determined by the local Tribal government and can be either the Tribe itself, or a separate Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE).

Under NAHASDA the Tribe has the ultimate decision-making authority as to the spending of the annual Indian Housing Block Grant, as well as oversight responsibility of either the Tribal housing department or TDHE.

According to Section 404 of NAHASDA “for each fiscal year, each recipient shall, (1) review the progress it has made during such fiscal year in carrying out the Indian housing plan (or plans) for the Indian tribes for which it administers grant amounts; and (2) submit a report to the Secretary (in a form acceptable to the Secretary) describing the conclusions of the review”.

The Indian Housing Plan (IHP) is the tool which Tribes/TDHEs use to plan the activities that they will undertake in the coming year. It is the one requirement that the Tribes must meet in order to claim their IHBG allocation for that fiscal year, and is due no later than April 17 of every year.

The primary market for assistance under NAHASDA is those families that are found to have an income of 80% of the median income and below. However, families wishing to purchase a home that have incomes in the 80-100% of the median are also eligible for assistance, but the Tribe/TDHE is only allowed to spend 10% of their annual IHBG allocation on this particular market.

Because the Mutual Help and Occupancy Agreements (MHOA’s) are a legal contract, they are still in effect, even after the enactment of NAHASDA. However, the MHOA’s should be updated for use in the future to reflect the name of the organization that is now administering your local housing program, as well as any change in policies that may contradict the MHOA. Remember, the MHOA is a contract signed by both the Housing Authority and the participant; neither side can unilaterally change or disregard any part of that contract.

Yes, but there are limitations and minimum disqualification periods depending on the offense. These disqualification periods include Permanent, 10 Years, 7 Years, 3 years, and Discretionary. There are guidelines for determining eligibility with many factors considered including a review of background checks.

No. Generally, housing units are occupied and not available for viewing to respect the occupancy of the current tenant. We do, however, allow eligible Applicants to view an offered unit prior to accepting the unit.

Possibly. TNHA depends on landlord references and credit history to determine the Applicant’s likelihood of making timely payments when determining eligibility according to the program guidelines. If the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, the application will be considered.

No, TNHA does not charge an application fee.

Generally, applicants are on TNHA waitlists for 2-3 years before a unit becomes available, but waitlists change daily. We recommend all households needing housing to put in an application as soon as possible and keep it updated. Though units are slow to turn over, we can move through a waitlist fairly quickly when a unit opens up as some households have found other housing, moved off-slope, or are no longer eligible for the program.

Waitlists are managed by program and bedroom size and vary from 1 – 40+ applicants.

No. TNHA does not have a free rent program, but the security deposit may be paid in four monthly installments.

Yes. There are income limits in the Low Rent Program, which are established by HUD and can be found on here. There are also minimum income requirements for the market-based programs.

TNHA does not allow pets.

TNHA currently does not have a rent-to-own program. Our homebuyer programs are Lease Purchases.

It depends on the funding that was used to build or acquire the home. All auction sale proceeds are reinvested into TNHA programs.

A good home should work like a thermos to keep warm. Typical homes lose lots and lots of heat in our cold climate, which burdens our communities that rely on costly imported diesel. Subsidized energy waste in homes and buildings cost the North Slope Borough millions of dollars each year that could be spent on other services to help people. Energy-efficient construction is not just financially smart, it’s the right thing to do.

Unlike people, buildings don’t have to breathe, but they do need to stay warm and dry on the inside. The best way to do this is to build tight, then ventilate right. The difference between leakage and ventilation is human control.