Native American Housing Assistance

HUD has traditionally provided federal housing assistance to Native Americans through many of the same programs that have provided public housing to the nation's low-income families. However, this changed significantly on October 26, 1996, when the President signed the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) into law. This act separated Indian housing programs from public housing programs and provides federal housing assistance for Indian tribes in a manner that recognizes the tribes' right of self-determination and self-governance. This report examines certain aspects of HUD's implementation of NAHASDA.

More than 570 federally and state-recognized Indian tribes receive about $667 million in housing assistance annually under the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program, which recognizes the tribes' right to self-determination and self-governance in addressing their affordable housing needs. This report studied tribal housing challenges. Building on past work that raised discussion about some challenges, it examines common housing challenges tribes face and actions that could address them. The report interviewed Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other agencies, a tribal advocacy group, and 23 tribal entities that were selected using input from HUD and other factors such as tribe funding, and conducted two site visits where challenges appeared to be unique. Figures. This is a print on demand report.