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Honoring Native American Heritage Month at Habitat Clallam
Native Americans and tribal communities face some of the most severe housing challenges of any population. A first-of-its-kind study of Washington Native housing needs, published in 2022*, showed that when compared to the state as a whole, Native communities experience:
- Higher rates of cost burden
- Higher rates of overcrowding
- Higher rates of home loan denial
- Lower rates of homeownership
- Less adequate housing
- Higher rates of homelessness
The reasons for these disparities range from underlying economic conditions and chronic poverty in Native communities to complex land ownership and title considerations on tribal trust lands, as well as historical disenfranchisement that has left tribes and tribal housing authorities chronically underfunded. The Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act, which brought great improvements to Native housing, has not been reauthorized since 2013 and has not kept pace with inflation. Some reports suggest that real spending power has dropped by 29%, forcing tribes to continually seek additional grant funding to build new homes.
Habitat for Humanity International is seeking ways to learn if and how it can partner with tribal communities to create housing opportunities for Native Americans both on and off tribal lands. Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County is excited to play a role in exploring how the nation’s largest affordable housing organization can improve and expand its work.
*Source: Assessment of the housing needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians in Washington, 2022 (https://www.commerce.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CommerceReports_2021_CSHD_NA-Housing_4.26.22_Final.pdf)
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