Existing law creates the Tribal Housing Grant Program Trust Fund, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Existing law requires any moneys appropriated and made available by the Legislature through the annual Budget Act for purposes of the fund and 10% of any moneys that will be appropriated and made available by the Legislature to the department through the annual Budget Act for specified housing programs to be paid and deposited in the fund. Existing law requires the department to monitor the balance of the fund and, when the department determines that sufficient moneys are available in the fund, existing law requires the moneys in the fund to be allocated in accordance with a specified formula, as provided, and for specific purposes, including, among others, housing and housing-related program services for affordable housing, housing and community development project costs, and management services for affordable housing for the benefit of eligible beneficiaries, including, among others, Indian and essential families and individuals residing in an Indian area, as specified.

Existing law requires the department, in close consultation with California tribes and a tribal housing grant program trust fund advisory committee, to adopt guidelines to implement the above-described provisions, including determining allocation methodologies.

This bill would require the department, in close consultation with California tribes and a tribal housing grant program trust fund advisory committee, to adopt guidelines for grant applications due after January 1, 2028, streamlining and aligning the grant application process with federal tribal grant application requirements. The bill would require the department to include a tribal liaison designated by the department in discussions with tribes throughout the grant process to ensure that tribal sovereignty is honored.