HUD CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING NEEDS

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced that HUD will hold its sixth annual Native American Housing Summit May 1-3 in Portland, Oregon.

The three-day conference is called Building a Strong Foundation. It is designed to bring housing groups, lenders and the Native American community together to discuss ways to expand the supply of affordable housing and increase homeownership in Indian Country.

The summit will feature a series of hands-on technical training sessions on the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA). It will also provide a platform for discussing successful program administration, financing, self-monitoring, grant writing, and construction methods.

"HUD is working in partnership with Indian nations to improve housing conditions for Native American families," Cuomo said.

"Building a strong and effective tribal housing program is vital to self-determination," said Jacqueline Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD's Office of Native American Programs. "Training and knowledge of resources is an essential element."

Many housing resources, lenders and economic development entities will be in the exhibit hall with displays, information on their products and services, and will be available for one-on-one sessions with conference participants.

Since the enactment of NAHASDA, the number of tribes receiving federal housing assistance has increased significantly. The act reorganized the system of federal housing assistance to Native Americans by eliminating several separate programs and replacing them with a single block grant program that recognizes the right of Indian self-determination and tribal self-governance. It provides for tribal governing bodies to name a tribally designated housing entity - which may be the former Indian Housing Authority - to prepare an Indian Housing Plan.

NAHASDA is the principal grant program assisting more than 450 grantees in Indian Country. In his Fiscal Year 2001 budget, President Clinton has proposed increased funding for HUD's Indian programs to $730 million - a jump of $37 million from the Fiscal Year 2000 budget. The budget request increases funding for existing programs and for new, innovative initiatives that will provide important opportunities for Indian tribes.

For more information about the summit, including a brochure and to register online, visit the ONAP Web page at http://www.codetalk.fed.us/ or call the Summit Information Line at (703) 902-1236.