Alaska CDBG handbook to clarify housing eligibility; workshops in Oct.

Alaska communities applying for this year's Community Development Block Grant money already could put it toward housing, but the state's new application handbook will spell that out more clearly. The Division of Community and Regional Affairs said its CDBG staff are updating the federal fiscal year 2026 Application Workshop Handbook to add new guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, reflect the new ROAD to Housing Act and formally list housing as an eligible activity for the FFY26 application period. Staff anticipate the handbook will be available by Oct. 1.

The prior handbook, for FFY25, already said housing activities were eligible under CDBG guidelines, but it also stated the program did not target housing activities, a distinction the FFY26 update is meant to resolve. The federal 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which has passed both chambers of Congress and awaits the president's signature, would make new construction of affordable housing an allowable use of CDBG funds. Alaska News previously covered the opening of the FFY26 round, with about $2.5 million available, a Dec. 4 deadline and a cap of $850,000 per community. Every Alaska municipality except Anchorage may apply.

The eligibility change lands amid a statewide housing shortage. At a Commonwealth North housing panel, Daniel Delfino said, "We're trying to figure out what we can do to continue making housing affordable for Alaskans."

DCRA has set the first two application workshops, both over Zoom:

• Thursday, Oct. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m.: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83359581675?pwd=PqzaXAYTVBaEHEpRugiYgAjs3JyqLZ.1

• Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82570429556?pwd=vQG291latz8Nr1td54FJdbc3zSWMMj.1

Staff plan to cover the funding opportunity announcement, eligibility, submission requirements, eligible projects and timelines. Questions may be emailed in advance to [email protected].

Application materials, including the latest American Community Survey low- and moderate-income tables for Alaska communities, are scheduled to post Friday, Sept. 18. Separately, the federal Office of Management and Budget has paused sweeping changes to the Uniform Guidance that governs federal financial assistance until Dec. 11.