NAHASDA was passed in 1996 to streamline tribes’ access to housing program dollars by consolidating multiple programs into a single block grant – the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG). However, with the lack of increased appropriations to NAHASDA programs, tribes are piecing their housing programs together by finding resources from different programs across the federal government. Without reauthorization, NAHASDA program funding has remained stagnant for over a decade.
“NAHASDA has been a successful program since its inception. Tribes were producing new housing units at rates similar to or higher than HUD prior to NAHASDA’s enactment. By creating their own Indian Housing Plan, tribes can prioritize senior assisted housing, rental assistance or homeownership. Reauthorization of NAHASDA means increased resources and stronger programming,” said NAIHC Executive Director Chelsea Fish.
The large unmet housing need in Indian Country is persistent and growing. In 2018, the United States Commission on Civil Rights updated its “Broken Promises” report first released in 2003, and found that housing conditions had deteriorated, with the number of overcrowded households or households with inadequate plumbing growing by 21%, and the number of families facing severe housing costs growing by 55%.
“NAIHC recognizes and appreciate our allies in Congress who have continued to support tribal housing programs and NAHASDA reauthorization over the years. Now, NAIHC and tribes are calling on them to ensure tribes have the funding to provide housing assistance and homeownership opportunities to their tribal citizens through NAHASDA,” said Fish.
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