Grants for Native American tribal organizations - Housing

The MORE program was established to replace the state's underutilized Mobilehome Park Rehabilitation and Resident Ownership Program (MPPROP). Under the new MORE Program, the types of eligible applicants were expanded to include local public entities, qualified nonprofit housing sponsors and in some cases private MobilehomePark owners. The changes to this section of the HSC also allow for Mobilehome Parks that do not have a permit to operate or whose permit has been suspended to utilize MORE program funds. Key policy goals of the MORE program captured in the guidelines include:-Rehabilitation of Mobilehome Parks that have the most severe health and safety concerns;-Providing funding for the rehabilitation and/or replacement of individualMobilehomes;-The creation of Affordability Restrictions for assisted Mobilehome Parks.

This grant provides funding to organizations that offer transitional housing and support services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, helping them secure stable housing and rebuild their lives.

This funding opportunity supports projects that promote sustainable pest management practices to protect human health and the environment, particularly in underserved communities and agricultural areas near schools.

PLEASE READ: This program is NOT for flooding damage. This program is only available for infrastructure that was damaged from fires or fire suppression activities that occurred on or after July 1, 2020. For questions regarding post-wildfire flooding damage, please contact your local County Emergency Management office. PLEASE READ: Private landowners are only eligible to receive financial assistance if they work through an eligible applicant: Eligible applicants include Governmental organizations (including state, county, and local), 501(c) non-profit organizations, and Indian Tribes. The State of Arizona through the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) invites proposals from Arizona public and private landowners for emergency repairs for infrastructure damaged by fires or fire suppression activities occurring July 1, 2020 and after. The Post-Wildfire Infrastructure Assistance Program goal is to assist in infrastructure repairs to physical systems, operational structures and facilities needed for the use of urban, rural, agricultural, cultural and natural resources.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission invites applications for funding under the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Services grant. This grant supports the establishment and operation of ADRCs in seven designated Planning and Service Areas (PSAs) across Texas. These centers aim to provide a comprehensive, streamlined access system for older adults and individuals with disabilities, facilitating easier connection to long-term services and supports. The grant focuses on enhancing several core services, including specialized information, referral and assistance services, respite care referrals, local contact agency services for community living transitions, housing navigator services to increase accessible and affordable housing, and outreach activities for Medicare-related benefits. This initiative is a part of the broader No Wrong Door system, which involves multiple federal agencies to improve the quality and accessibility of long-term care and supports. The project stresses collaboration with local agencies and community organizations to ensure a wide-reaching impact.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local governments, tribal entities, and nonprofits for the rehabilitation of historic properties in rural communities, promoting economic development and cultural preservation.

This grant provides funding to community-based organizations that offer culturally specific services to support survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The Employment Development Department (EDD) announces the availability of up to  $100,000. Wagner-Peyser 10 percent Governor's Discretionary funds for Campesino de California Outreach Grant-Radio Media (CCOG-RM) Program Year 2024-25 (PY 24-25) available through this Solicitation for Proposals (SFP). The EDD anticipates funding one organization for the CCOG-RM PY 24-25 grant opportunity.  The purpose of the program is to create and broadcast 24 semi-monthly, 30-minute hosted radio talk show programs in Spanish and recorded in video format media. Additionally, the awardee must create complementing media posts to publish on its website and use social media outlets to publicize the radio talk show videos and communicate additional information as necessary. Eligible applicants for the CCOG-RM PY 24-25 SFP include public and private non-profit organizations, education institutions, community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations. Individuals are not eligible apply. Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, May 22, 2024. An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. PT.  Pre-registration is recommended for all attendees. Please refer to the EDD’s Workforce Development Solicitation for Proposals website link below for the pre-registration instructions. https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs_and_training/WDSFP_Workforce_Development_Solicitations_for_Proposals The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by May 21, 2024 by noon to [email protected]. To view this SFP, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage.

More than 22 million Americans currently live in manufactured housing.[1] Manufactured housing units account for approximately seven percent of occupied housing stock nationwide and fifteen percent in rural areas.[2] Manufactured housing is also the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the country, making it a crucial piece of the nations affordable housing stock.[3] The median household income of manufactured housing unit owners is about half the median household income of site-built homeowners [4].Manufactured housing can be permanently affixed to the lot underneath or be affixed to a support and anchoring system that allows the home to be relocated more easily. Manufactured housing is subject to HUD certification requirements pursuant to the regulations set forth in 24 CFR part 3282 (Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulation) and the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards set forth in 24 CFR 3280 (see the definition of manufactured housing in 24 CFR 3280.2).There are many significant challenges that may impact housing stability for those that live in manufactured homes. Despite perceptions of manufactured housing as mobile, manufactured housing can be very expensive and complicated to move, and more than 90% of manufactured homes do not move after the initial installation.[5] This can present a significant challenge for owners of manufactured homes who do not own the lot underneath their unit (referred to as homesite renters for the purposes of this NOFO). For some manufactured homeowners that rent a lot in a manufactured housing community (MHC), there is the potential for landowners or investors to increase lot rents, forcing homesite renters to make a difficult decision: pay to move their home, pay the increased rent, or leave their valuable asset.Due to state titling laws, many prospective homeowners looking to purchase a manufactured home may have no option but to finance their home with personal property or chattel loans, which often have higher interest rates than typical real property mortgages even in situations where they may own the lot their home sits on. Many older manufactured homes require repairs or enhancements to make them livable and suitable to their environment, or they are sited in hazard prone areas. Meanwhile, nearly a third of households living in manufactured housing are headed by an elderly individual, and manufactured housing households have a higher prevalence of a significant disability.[6] These vulnerable populations need access to infrastructure and amenities that are often unavailable for residents of manufactured housing. The infrastructure serving manufactured housing communities is often self-operated, not built to high standards and has become increasingly stressed by deferred maintenance and extreme climate and weather events.[7]HUD is issuing the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) competition NOFO to preserve long-term housing affordability for residents of manufactured housing or an MHC, to redevelop MHCs, and to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents. This NOFO is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, approved December 29, 2022). Congress appropriated $225 million for competitive grants to preserve and revitalize manufactured housing and eligible manufactured housing communities and directed HUD to undertake a competition under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). Of the $225 million available, $200 million is reserved for the main PRICE competition, of which at least $10 million is intended for Indian tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities and Tribal organizations designated by such Indian tribes (hereinafter referred to as Tribal Applicants), and $25 million is reserved for a pilot program to assist in the redevelopment of manufactured communities as replacement housing that is affordable. The minimum grant request for the main PRICE competition is $5 million for all applicants, except Tribal Applicants. Tribal Applicants may request a minimum of $500,000 for the main competition. The minimum grant request for the PRICE pilot is $5 million.HUD has six goals for this competition:Fairly and effectively award the PRICE grant funding and related technical assistance.Increase housing supply and affordability for LMI persons nationwide, including in urban, suburban, rural, and tribal areas.Preserve and revitalize existing manufactured housing and manufactured housing communities.Increase resilience to extreme weather, natural hazards, and disaster events, support energy efficiency, and protect the health and safety of manufactured housing residents.Promote homeownership opportunities and advance resident-controlled sustainable communities through new and revitalized units of manufactured housing that will remain affordable.Support accessibility modifications, repairs, and replacement of deteriorating manufactured housing units especially to increase accessibility and access for persons with disabilities, facilitate aging in place for older adults and increase access to affordable housing for low-income households.Successful proposals will:Demonstrate a compelling need for the preservation and revitalization of manufactured housing or MHCs;Evaluate how manufactured housing and MHCs contribute to the local affordable housing stock and what resources are needed to rehabilitate or replace existing units and MHCs;Prioritize equity and affirmatively further fair housing by demonstrating a commitment and ability to identify and remove barriers to: 1) expanding access to affordable housing in a manner that promotes desegregation, and 2) expanding access to affordable housing for protected class groups, for example, by addressing the lack of physically accessible manufactured homes in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 8, or by addressing policies preventing the rehabilitation of manufactured housing communities, deteriorating infrastructure, and lack of resources to support owners and residents of manufactured housing units.Engage a broad and inclusive stakeholder group, including residents of MHCs;Utilize strategies to reduce the impacts of environmental hazards and extreme weather;Increase community resilience, especially when reconstruction, relocation, or mitigation are involved; and,Ensure long-term housing availability, accessibility, and affordability for LMI households.Proposals may include the preservation and revitalization of manufactured housing units or MHCs at one or multiple sites and may span multiple jurisdictions. HUD seeks to preserve and revitalize manufactured housing units or communities in both urban and rural areas, as well as on Tribal lands and in disaster-prone communities. Eligible revitalization activities are broad and may include infrastructure or housing (and other eligible activities). HUD is instituting a requirement that all manufactured housing units receiving PRICE assistance must be maintained as affordable for a minimum period. Pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), proposals may include, but are not limited to, the following eligible uses:Development or improvement of infrastructure that supports new or existing MHCs and/or manufactured housing units, including roads, sidewalks, water, and wastewater infrastructure including well and septic systems, and utility hookups;Environmental improvements such as remediation of contaminants in land servicing MHCs;Repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of existing manufactured housing units (pre-1976 units, which were referred to as mobile homes, may only be replaced. PRICE funds may not be used for their repair or rehabilitation);Planning activities around MHCs, including functional or implementation plans for land use or zoning changes to be more permissive of manufactured housing units or communities;Resident and community services, including relocation assistance (which may include moving manufactured housing units) and eviction prevention;Resilience activities, which include the reconstruction, repair, or replacement of manufactured housing and MHCs, as well as that for infrastructure serving MHCs, to enhance their safety and stability in the face of natural hazards such as, but not limited to, wildfires, earthquakes, tornados, extreme heat, and flooding, and to mitigate known hazards and the rising threat that extreme weather events present to manufactured housing due to climate change, except that for pre-1976 mobile homes, funds made available under resilience activities may be used only for replacement; or,Assisting manufactured housing renters or homesite renters with land and site acquisition.A portion of funds are reserved for PRICE pilot awards that may be used for the following:Redevelopment of MHCs as affordable replacement housing. Note that for each unit of single-family manufactured housing (including pre-1976 mobile homes) replaced under the project, up to four dwelling units of such affordable housing must be provided; or,Relocation assistance, buy-outs, or down payment assistance for residents.Manufactured Housing BackgroundManufactured homes are safe, quality housing and an affordable alternative often indistinguishable from site-built homes. Built in factories, the per square foot cost of producing a manufactured home is generally less than half the cost of constructing comparable site-built, single-family detached homes.[8] The lower production costs pass through to consumers as the purchase price and monthly costs of manufactured homes are generally less than half that of site-built homes. These lower costs provide an avenue to affordable homeownership options for LMI residents. With a large and growing shortage of affordable and physically accessible housing in the United States, manufactured housing can provide more rental and ownership options for LMI persons.The benefits and affordability of manufactured housing also apply to homes built on Tribal lands. About seventeen percent of households on Tribal land live in manufactured housing.[9] With approximately 68,000 new units needed to eliminate housing overcrowding in Tribal areas alone, more manufactured housing could help alleviate an acute housing shortage for the American Indian/Alaska Native population and assist to replace severely physically inadequate units.On June 22, 2023, HUD issued a Dear Tribal Leader letter soliciting Tribal feedback on manufacturing housing needs in Indian Country. Additionally, manufactured housing was also discussed at HUDs inaugural Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (TIAC) meeting in April 2023, and Tribal representatives provided HUD feedback and recommendations. HUD received over seventy-four comments from more than ten respondents during Tribal consultation. HUD thanks all the respondents that provided Tribal feedback. This NOFO was developed in accordance with HUDs Tribal consultation policy and incorporates feedback from Tribal leaders.A manufactured home is built to HUDs Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (HUD Code, 24 CFR part 3280), which are federal standards for the design and construction of manufactured homes to assure quality, durability, safety, and affordability. HUD was authorized to establish this code by the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974. Since then, Congress and HUD have advanced the manufactured housing regulatory framework (including rounds of improvements to the HUD Code for manufactured housing beginning in 1976, and minimum installation standards promulgated in 2007 (24 CFR part 3285) and continual updates including the more recently published updates to The Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, 3rd set Final Rule (effective July 12, 2021)).Manufactured Housing StatisticsSite built homes average $167.87 per square foot while manufactured homes average $85.00 per square foot.[10]About 40 percent of manufactured homeowners rent the lot where their home is located. They typically rent individual plots of land, known as lots or pads, in MHCs owned and managed by a for-profit operator. Less commonly, borrowers may place the unit on someone elses land (such as that belonging to a family member) without making payment, rent the land from a non-profit or government entity, or own the land indirectly, such as participating in a resident-controlled cooperative.[11]Freddie Mac estimates that there are 1,065 resident owned communities, constituting 2.4% of the 45,600 MHCs estimated to be operating in the U.S.[12]The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 112,882 manufactured housing units were shipped across the country in 2022 a number that has grown consistently since the market collapse in 2009.[13]New manufactured homes can be built to replace both aging manufactured homes as well as site-built housing stock. More than half of the overall U.S. housing stock is more than 42 years old and a quarter is more than 62 years old.[14]Manufactured housing has the potential to be an even more significant source of unsubsidized affordable housing than it is today. The Biden-Harris Administrations Housing Supply Action Plan promotes the development of more attractive or low-cost financing for manufactured homes to increase the U.S. affordable housing supply.[15][1] Urban Institute. Retrieved from 22 Million Renters and Owners of Manufactured Homes Are Mostly Left Out of Pandemic Assistance Urban Institute on September 15, 2023.[2] Urban Institute. Retrieved from 22 Million Renters and Owners of Manufactured Homes Are Mostly Left Out of Pandemic Assistance Urban Institute on September 15, 2023.[3] Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Retrieved from https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_manufactured-housing-finance-new-insights-hmda_report_2021-05.pdf on September 15, 2023.[4] Fannie Mae. Retrieved from Manufactured Housing and Manufactured Homes Landscape Fannie Mae on October 5, 2023.[5] Mobile Home Living. Retrieved from 4 Things To Consider Before Moving A Manufactured Home Mobile Home Living on July 17, 2023.[6] Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Retrieved from Data Spotlight: Profiles of older adults living in mobile homes Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov) on September 8, 2023.[7] American Planning Association. Retrieved from Potential of Manufactured Housing and Resident-Owned Communities (planning.org) on September 15, 2023.[8] Urban Institute. Retrieved from How Manufactured Housing Can Fill Affordable Housing Gaps Housing Matters (urban.org) on September 15, 2023.[9] The Center for Indian Country Development (CICD) at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved from The Tribal Leaders Handbook on Homeownership on July 17, 2023.[10] Manufactured Housing Institute. Retrieved from About Manufactured Homes - MHI (manufacturedhousing.org) on October 19, 2023.[11] Enterprise Community Partners. Retrieved from Supporting Manufactured Home Communities Enterprise Community Partners on July 17, 2023.[12] Freddie Mac. Retrieved from Freddie Mac: Manufactured Housing Residents Face Challenges in Establishing Resident-Owned Communities Freddie Mac (gcs-web.com) on July 17, 2023.[13] The Census Bureau. Retrieved from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/mhs/tables/time-series/annual_shipmentstostates.xlsx on October 19, 2023.[14] Urban Institute. Retrieved from The Role of Manufactured Housing (urban.org) on July 17, 2023.[15] The White House. Retrieved from President Biden Announces New Actions to Ease the Burden of Housing Costs The White House on July 17, 2023.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and special districts in Adams County, Colorado, to enhance family stability and promote community development through essential services and innovative projects.

This grant provides financial support to small Iowa city and county governments, as well as tribal governments, to improve local housing policies and attract housing development through workshops and data-driven assessments.

The South Dakota Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF) is a grant program designed to foster economic development in South Dakota by increasing the availability of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for families and individuals. This aligns with a foundational mission to support community well-being and economic stability through essential housing solutions. The HOF is administered by South Dakota Housing and the SD Housing Board of Commissioners, ensuring a strategic approach to addressing housing needs across the state. The target beneficiaries of the HOF include low to moderate-income households, with a maximum income at or below 115% of the county or state area median income (AMI), whichever is higher, as determined by HUD criteria. The impact goals are broad, aiming to expand housing options, prevent homelessness, and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. This comprehensive approach seeks to create a more equitable and supportive housing landscape for vulnerable populations. The HOF prioritizes various activities to achieve its goals. These include new construction or the purchase and rehabilitation of rental or homeownership housing, housing preservation (such as home repair grants and grants for accessibility modifications), homelessness prevention activities, and support for community land trusts. For development projects, there are application limits of $350,000 for rural development and $150,000 for urban development, ensuring a focused allocation of funds. Eligible projects encompass new construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of rental housing, as well as the purchase and rehabilitation of homeownership housing, substantial or moderate rehabilitation, housing preservation, and rehabilitating homes for individuals with disabilities. The expected outcomes include an increased supply of affordable housing units, improved housing conditions, and reduced instances of homelessness. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of housing units created or preserved, the number of households served, and the number of homes made accessible. The underlying theory of change is that by investing in diverse housing solutions and supporting eligible entities, the HOF can directly address the housing crisis, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for South Dakota residents.

This grant provides funding to organizations that offer housing and comprehensive support services to homeless veterans in Arizona, aiming to reduce veteran homelessness and promote long-term stability.

The Juneau Affordable Housing Fund (JAHF), established by the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), aims to increase affordable (0% to 80% area median income (AMI)) and middle-income (80% to 120% AMI) housing in Juneau. This initiative aligns with the CBJ's broader mission to address housing needs within the Capital City. The JAHF directs financial resources towards various activities including funding capital costs for rental and ownership housing, supporting capacity-building efforts for non-profit housing developers, and leveraging CBJ investments with other funding sources to maximize the creation and preservation of quality affordable and middle-income housing units. The primary beneficiaries of the JAHF are households within the affordable (0-80% AMI) and middle-income (80-120% AMI) ranges, as well as non-profit housing developers, public housing authorities, tribal governments, and for-profit developers who contribute to the creation of such housing. The impact goals include increasing the number of available affordable and middle-income housing units, fostering long-term affordability, and encouraging downtown housing development. The JAHF prioritizes the use of capital to develop housing units, specifically funding for acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable, middle-income, and senior housing, as well as homeowner opportunities. A key focus is on long-term affordability, with a preference for units created with affordability covenants or that are permanently affordable. Additionally, the fund prioritizes housing development within the boundaries established by the Downtown Juneau Residential Tax Abatement Map. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in the supply of affordable and middle-income housing units in Juneau. Measurable results will be tracked through the number of housing units created or preserved, the proportion of units designated for long-term affordability, and the geographic distribution of new developments, particularly in the downtown area. The CBJ’s strategic priority, as reflected in the JAHF, is to implement its Housing Action Plan by directing financial resources and incentives to address the critical need for diverse housing options across different income levels, thereby enhancing the overall livability and economic stability of the community.

Since 2022, Cal ICH has partnered with California Federally Recognized Tribes and stakeholders to develop the Tribal HHAP Program. In 2024, Cal ICH is continuing and expanding our partnerships with Tribes and stakeholders in strengthening the Tribal HHAP program. Through the integration of feedback from the community’s served, Cal ICH’s goal is to continue culturally responsive programming designed to meet the needs of tribal communities, with funding accessible to all California Federally Recognized Tribes in need.Tribal HHAP is a tribal allocation set-aside from the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program, built specifically for and with California Federally Recognized Tribes.

1. PurposeThe Healthy Homes Production Program (HHP) is part of HUDs overall Healthy Homes Initiative launched in 1999. The program takes a comprehensive approach to addressing multiple childhood diseases and injuries in the home by focusing on housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time. The program builds upon HUDs successful Lead Hazard Control programs to expand the Departments efforts to address a variety of high-priority environmental health and safety hazards. Applicants receiving a Healthy Homes Production Award will be expected to accomplish the following objectives:Maximize both the number of vulnerable residents protected from housing-related environmental health and safety hazards and the number of housing units where these hazards are controlled;Identify and remediate housing-related health and safety hazards in privately owned, low-income rental and/or owner-occupied housing, especially in units and/or buildings where families with children, older adults 62 years and older, or families with persons with disabilities reside;Promote cost-effective and efficient healthy home methods and approaches that can be replicated and sustained;Support public education and outreach that furthers the goal of protecting children and other vulnerable populations from housing-related health and safety hazards;Build local capacity to operate sustainable programs that will prevent and control housing-related environmental health and safety hazards in low- and very low-income residences, and develop a professional workforce that is trained in healthy homes assessment and principles;Promote integration of this grant program with housing rehabilitation, property maintenance, weatherization, healthy homes initiatives, local lead-based paint hazard control programs, health and safety programs, and energy efficiency improvement activities and programs;Build and enhance partner resources to develop the most cost-effective methods for identifying and controlling key housing-related environmental health and safety hazards;Promote collaboration, data sharing, and targeting between health and housing departments;Ensure to the greatest extent feasible that job training, employment, contracting, and other economic opportunities generated by this grant will be directed to low- and very-low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to businesses that provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons in the area in which the project is located. For more information, see 24 CFR 135 (Section 3);Further environmental justice, the fair treatment, and meaningful involvement of all people within the target communities regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identify), familial status or income regarding the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies; k. Comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and its implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 8, as well as Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act when applicable. Each of these prohibits discrimination based on disability. In addition to these requirements, recipients have an obligation to comply with the Fair Housing Act, including the obligation to affirmatively further fair housing, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Note that besides being an objective of this NOFO, the obligation to affirmatively further fair housing is also a civil right related statutory and program requirement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities, non-profits, and community boards in New York State for revitalizing areas impacted by brownfields through planning and environmental assessments.

Projects should address one or more of the following Creative Youth Development program goals: Provide social-emotional creative experiences in safe, healthy and appropriate learning environments. Foster creative abilities of youth through culturally and linguistically responsive arts learning. Support arts programs that seek to activate youth voices, narratives, and perspectives. Utilize cultural assets of the local community to support positive self-identification and respect for diverse cultures. Empower youth through the preservation, revitalization, and/or reclamation of cultural practices. Cultivate the development of transferable life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and Tribal entities to strengthen their capacity for housing and community development projects in low-income rural areas.

This program provides funding to communities for hiring independent experts to help them understand and engage in the cleanup of contaminated sites, ensuring they have the knowledge and support to advocate for their health and environment.