HUD AWARDS THE NORTHWESTERN BAND OF THE SHOSHONE NATION $196,908 IN A GRANT TO IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS FOR NATIVE AMERICANS

SALT LAKE CITY - The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $196,908 in grant funds to the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation today to improve housing conditions for Native Americans.

"This funding helps tribal communities provide decent, safe, affordable housing for its members," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, who announced the grants today. "HUD is proud to partner with tribal governments in our efforts to provide quality housing to Native Americans." The Tribe will use the funding, as well as additional funds, to maintain housing units in its current inventory, to construct six new housing units, and to rehabilitate fifteen housing units.

The funding is from HUD's Indian Housing Block Grant Program. HUD gives $624 million in IHBG funding to nearly 400 tribes or tribal housing entities annually. The IHBG program was established under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination (NAHASDA) Act of 1996. NAHASDA reorganized HUD's housing assistance to Native Americans by eliminating several separate assistance programs and replacing them with "block grant" assistance. This single needs-based grant empowers tribes to determine how best to use the funding to address specific needs of their communities. Federally recognized Indian tribes or tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs) are eligible for these grants.

The funding is used for a range of affordable housing activities on Indian reservations and Indian areas. Recipients can use the funding to build or rehabilitate existing housing; establish housing services such as community centers to support low income housing; provide crime prevention and safety for housing; and the creation of activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing challenges in the community.

HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), Office of Native American Programs is responsible for the implementation and administration of programs specific to Native American housing and economic development. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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