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BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEARLY $6 MILLION TO SEVEN NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING GROUPS IN WASHINGTON STATE
Funds will produce more affordable housing for Native American families

SEATTLE – Seven Native American housing organizations will receive $5,929,906 in federal assistance to promote affordable housing, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez announced today. The housing organizations receiving the funding are:

“These grants do so much good for so many people,” Martinez said. “This money helps Native American communities do the critical work of providing affordable housing and helping our most vulnerable neighbors.”

The funding announced today is part of HUD’s Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program. The IHBG program allows tribes or tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs) to provide a range of affordable housing activities. The block grant approach to housing for Native Americans was enabled by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) of 1996. This single needs-based grant empowers the Tribe with the responsibility of determining how the funds should be used to address the needs specific to its communities. Among other things, the funds may be used for housing development, modernization, management services and operating assistance, housing counseling, crime prevention and safety, training and technical assistance.

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov.

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