BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $3.1 MILLION IN
HOUSING FUNDS FOR FORT BERTHOLD HOUSING AUTHORITY

FARGO, ND - The Fort Berthold Housing Authority will receive more than $3.1 million in federal assistance to promote affordable housing, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez announced today. The funding
announced today is provided through HUD's Indian Housing Block Grant program.

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

The Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program allows tribes or tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs) to
provide a range of affordable housing activities on a reservation or Indian area. The block grant approach to
housing for Native Americans was authorized by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination
Act (NAHASDA) of 1996. The tribes or TDHEs are empowered with the responsibility of determining how those funds should be used to address needs specific to their own communities. The funding announced today for the Fort Berthold Housing Authority totals $3,183,961.

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.

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