To Prioritize Speed, Hud Says It Will Simplify Disaster Recovery Funding Process

In a move designed to increase the speed that recovery funds can be provided, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Thursday published a universal notice about Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) programs that will consolidate guidance from disparate notices going back to 1992.

The notice “consolidates relevant requirements from several Federal Register notices and Community Planning and Development (CPD) notices since 1992, incorporates over 700 stakeholder comments, and fully aligns with the president’s executive orders,” according to a statement from HUD.

The move aims to modernize and streamline existing processes for accessing and disbursing disaster recovery funds, according to HUD Secretary Scott Turner.

“HUD is committed to helping Americans recover from natural disasters and a key part of our commitment is streamlining outdated and cumbersome processes to ensure there is no delay in providing critical resources to the communities we are called to serve,” Turner said in a statement. “With this universal notice, HUD will better serve the American people during trying times with the urgency they deserve.”

The 39-page notice was signed by HUD staffer Matthew Ammon under the duties of deputy secretary. Ammon previously served as acting HUD secretary during the transition from the Biden administration to the new Trump administration. The notice incorporates guidance from four executive orders issued by the president between Jan. 20 and March 1.

These include orders seeking to bolster housing and cost-of-living affordability; the abolition of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from government programs and private contracts; and the designation of English as the official language of the U.S.

Some of the changes include less stringent reporting requirements on the part of CDBG-DR beneficiaries. Prior guidance is replaced by more general provisions that still require grant recipients to maintain publicly accessible websites, which allow the public “to see how all grant funds are used and administered,” HUD explained.

Some flood-control structure requirements were also changed. And there is less emphasis on certain requirements for CDBG-DR funds to more directly impact low- to moderate-income (LMI) populations.