U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has announced a new initiative to streamline the department's disaster recovery processes. The updated Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Universal Notice aims to expedite the delivery of assistance to Americans affected by disasters.
The notice consolidates requirements from several Federal Register notices and Community Planning and Development notices dating back to 1992. It incorporates feedback from over 700 stakeholders and aligns with presidential executive orders.
“HUD is committed to helping Americans recover from natural disasters, and a key part of our commitment is streamlining outdated and cumbersome processes to ensure there is no delay in providing critical resources to the communities we are called to serve,” stated Secretary Scott Turner. “With this Universal Notice, HUD will better serve the American people during trying times with the urgency they deserve.”
Recently, HUD allocated nearly $12 billion in CDBG-DR funds across 47 grantees, including states, counties, cities, and one territory. These recipients will benefit from the new streamlined guidance provided by the Universal Notice.
The notice offers consistent guidance for communities recovering from disasters. It includes public comments on improving access to information about assistance status, simplifying housing documentation for survivors, providing flexibility for rental assistance reimbursement, and offering greater leeway on building codes.
HUD also plans policy updates and may extend deadlines for grantees' Action Plans submission if needed. This extension would allow HUD staff to assist states and localities in training efforts ensuring compliance with the new guidelines.
Resources such as Action Plan templates and review checklists are available on the Universal Notice Overview webpage for grantees covered by these guidelines.
