Bishop Paiute Tribe’s Community Development Department offers Several 2026 Housing Programs for enrolled Tribal members, including:

• Elder, Disabled & Veteran Housing Allowance- annual help with home expenses like utilities, maintenance, or small repairs (up to $1,500 per household per year, based on qualifying category).

• Home Improvement Loan- Zero-interest loans up to $10,000 for essential home repairs or upgrades, repayable over 5 years with a one-time 2.5% fee.

• Down Payment Assistance- grants up to $10,000 (up to $5,000 for closing/site costs) to help low-income members buy their first home, with long-term residence requirements.

• Student Housing Assistance- Grants up to $400 per month for 9 months for eligible full- time students living over 100 miles away while attending school.

  More Information on Programs

Payments & Rent Policy- Amended by BPTC on 4-20-2026

We’ve made several updates to improve fairness, consistency, and clarity in how income and rent are calculated:

Income Calculation Options

• Applicants may now choose between the IRS method or the Section 8 method, whichever is more beneficial.

  • IRS Method: Uses Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from tax returns. This is especially helpful for self-employed applicants, as it simplifies income calculation without requiring detailed breakdowns of business expenses.

  • Section 8 Method: Uses verified income sources (pay stubs, statements, etc.) and calculates annual income by projecting earnings over the year.

Child Care Expense Deduction

• Child care deductions remain a dollar-for-dollar reduction from annual income but are now more clearly defined:

  • Limited to the wages of the lowest-paid adult household member.

  • If child care is for education purposes, the adult must verify enrollment as a student taking at least 12 credits during the time care is received.

Rent Calculation Standardization

• Rent is now calculated using a standard 20% multiplier across all programs.

  • Previously: 15% for homeownership and 20% for rentals.

  • Note: NAHASDA guidelines allow up to 30%.

Utility Allowance Update

• The utility allowance has been removed from rent calculations to prevent negative rent amounts.

Updated Income Definitions

• Added guidance from PIH Notice 2024-07 to clarify income definitions.

Appendix Update

• Appendix D (Utility Allowance) has been replaced with PIH Notice 2024-07 for consistency with current standards.

  Payment & Rent Policy

Starting January 1, 2026, the Community Development Department will require all tenants and applicant to verify which children live in their household and provide custody documentation for any child they have more than 50% custody of. Certified birth certificates, Social Security cards, and notarized or court-approved custody documents are required to update family composition. Children without verified custody will be listed as “residing only” and not counted for eligibility or deductions. Annual Recertification Packets are due March 31, 2026. For assistance, contact the CDD office at 760-872-4356.

Family Composition and Custody Letter