top of page
File_009.jpeg

Cares Relief Funding and allocations

Facts

  • Starting in early 2020, ONC began to receive substantial federal COVID Relief funds from the US Treasury, BIA, ACF, HUD IHBG, and US Treasury Relief rental and utility assistance funding beginning in Feb 2021. 

  • The US Treasury published initial reporting and records retention requirements  in July 2020.  Updated program guidance was published in Jan 2021 including an extension to use 2020 funds through Dec 31, 2021. 

  • The US Treasury published guidance on tribal rental assistance and utility relief on Mar 16. More guidance is expected.

  • On Mar 23, ONC reported having received $14,458,553.81 in federal COVID (CARES) Relief funds. 

  •  A full accounting of actual funds received, used, and remaining is pending. 

  • ONC is requested to provide a full program update and financial report regularly and until closeout of various awards received.

  • Authorized use and distribution of relief funds is evolving, uneven, and opaque. 

  • Some members received no cash-based or provision-based CARES Relief. Zero. Nothing. They Skunked. This seems to include some elders, adults, and minor children of tribal members known to ONC. 

  • Some received prepaid cards. Some did not. 

  • Some received an allocation per household. Some did not.

  • Some submitted CARES applications, some did not. 

  • Some non-members received some distributions. Most did not. 

  • Some received or will be offered:

    • sleds

    • salmon nets, some with buoys

    • whitefish nets

    • All-American pressure cookers (some for door prizes)

    • drying rack bug netting

    • uluaqs 

    • gas cards

    • boxes of Meyers farm food

    • a share of a warehouse full of food

  • A special meeting was posted on ONC’s Facebook page on Mon afternoon, Mar 22. The Council met on Tues, Mar 23, 5:30 pm AKDT “regarding cares (sic) 2020 closeout.” 

  • The next regular Council meeting is Wed, May 5,  5:30 pm AKDT.

Calls To Action

  • Contact ONC with concerns about CARES Relief for you, your kids, or grandkids

  •  Learn about ONC’s Council authorized plan for CARES Relief use and distributions from all remaining and anticipated next round funds

  • Offer suggestions! 

  • Ask for invitations and attend meetings

  • Ask tough questions and expect timely and complete answers

Tough Questions

  • Why are/were some exceptions being made on an adhoc basis while elders and others think or are told they missed the original or extended application deadline and cannot be helped? When will ONC reach out to those turned away? Left out?

  • What were Council authorized priorities for 2020 ONC CARES Relief funding? What’s next for current and upcoming 2021 relief?

  • How is ONC getting the word out?

  • How can interested citizens weigh in? When? 

  • How many ONC citizens (households, adults, minor children) have been served, denied, or left out? Why? 

  • How will members and households be made whole and provided with equitable access to each Council authorized ONC CARES Relief funded program and service?

  • Has the ONC CARES Relief allocation and distribution been fair so far?

  • What are better ways? How will ONC decide? Who will be heard?

  • What is ONC’s Council authorized position on Calista’s request for tribal consultation to receive input on Calista’s pending substantial CARES allocations for the good of our region? Where can members find out more? 

  • What are Council authorized priorities for additional 2021 CARES Relief funding including first round $2,304,638.20 CARES Relief rental and utility assistance funding awarded to ONC in Feb? 

  • What are ONC’s eligibility requirements? Who has been involved and how? Who is currently involved? Who will be involved? How will citizens participate? Who will develop, review, recommend, and when? How? When will the Council authorize? How?

  • What processes and controls are in place to ensure ONC has clear, accurate, and detailed reporting of CARES Relief funding uses for the upcoming April federal and state single audit to ensure funding criteria are met to protect future funding and to avoid external review and recall of funds awarded?

What Can We Learn From Other Tribal Nations?

bottom of page