ACORN Community Legal Education Series
California Indian Legal Services
Bishop · Escondido · Eureka · Oakland · Santa Rosa · Washington, D.C.

As a Native American, How Can I Get Financial Help With Housing?

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• What's in this guide and how can it help me?
• How do Indian tribes run housing programs?
• What do Indian Housing Authorities and Tribal Housing Agencies do?
• Do tribes get federal funding for tribal housing programs directly?
• What is NAHASDA?
• What are some "affordable housing activities" that a tribal housing program might use NAHASDA funds for?
• How do I know if I’m eligible for help from my tribe’s housing program?
• Are there any general rules about who is eligible?
• Are there other ways tribes get money for housing?
• What is the Housing Improvement Program (HIP)?
• How do I know if I’m eligible for a HIP grant?
• What’s a tribal service area?
• How do I apply for housing assistance (HIP) from the BIA?
• What IHAs and Tribal Housing Programs are there in California?
• What if my tribe isn’t listed here?
• What if I live in an urban area? Where can I get help with housing?

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What’s in this guide and how can it help me?

This guide can give you some basic information about tribal housing programs in California.

This guide also tells you how to contact many of the tribal housing programs in the state, so you can find out what services they provide and whether you are eligible for help with housing as a tribal member or Indian living on or near the tribe’s reservation or rancheria.

If you live in an urban area in California, this guide provides contact information for some programs that may be able to help you find affordable housing.

TIP: When people talk about the agencies or programs in this guide, they often use "acronyms" (abbreviations) instead of the full names. When we mention a program or agency, we tell you both what the full name is and what the acronym is.

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How do Indian tribes run housing programs?

• Some Indian tribes run their housing program through an Indian Housing Authority (IHA).
• Some tribes are part of an inter-tribal IHA (an IHA that serves more than one tribe).
• Some Indian tribes run their tribal housing programs through a Tribal Housing Department, or Tribal Housing Agency. (It may also be called a Tribal Housing Division, or Tribal Housing Office. Call your tribe to find out the name of their housing program.)

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What do Indian Housing Authorities and Tribal Housing Agencies do?

• They help Indian tribes get money to build homes for tribal members, improve existing homes, and/or provide other housing services.
• They run the tribe’s housing services for tribal members, both on and off the reservation. Sometimes, they may also serve Indians who aren’t tribal members but who live in the area.
• Each program has its own policies and procedures, and also complies with tribal and federal laws.

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Do tribes get federal funding for tribal housing programs directly?

Yes. Under NAHASDA, Indian tribes get federal housing funds directly from HUD.

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What is NAHASDA?

• NAHASDA is the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act. It is a law that was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1996.
• NAHASDA allows tribes to get funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to run tribal housing programs.
• NAHASDA is one of the main sources of federal money for tribal housing programs.
• Through NAHASDA, HUD may give tribes grants or loans that help the tribe to "provide a range of affordable housing activities."

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What are some "affordable housing activities" that a tribal housing program might use NAHASDA funds for?

There are a variety of programs that a tribal housing program might run to do things like build, buy, or repair housing. Some examples of programs that a tribe might have include:

• A rental assistance program (to help low-income people pay their rent)
• A down-payment assistance program (to help people with the amount of a down-payment for a home)
• A home rehabilitation program (to help people pay for necessary repairs to their homes)

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How do I know if I’m eligible for help from my tribe’s housing program?

Usually, there are several criteria that you have to meet to qualify for assistance. Each tribal housing program has different rules, so the easiest way to find out if you are eligible for help from your tribe’s housing program is to call them and explain what kind of assistance you’re looking for. They can tell you what programs they run and what the eligibility criteria are.

A list of many of the tribal housing programs in California is included in this guide.

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Are there any general rules about who is eligible?

No, but there are some common rules. Some of the most common are:

• Whether you are an enrolled member of the tribe

• Whether you meet income eligibility requirements (whether your income is considered "low" according to specific guidelines)

Remember, each tribal housing program has its own rules, so be sure to ask them what the eligibility criteria are for the program you want help from.

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Are there other ways tribes get money for housing?

Yes. In addition to NAHASDA/HUD funding, there are several federal programs that give Native Americans funds for housing.

For example, your tribal government may get money from the Housing Improvement Program (HIP).

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What is the Housing Improvement Program (HIP)?

HIP is a home repair program run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

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How do I know if I’m eligible for a HIP grant?

In order to get HIP funds you must:

• Be a member of a federally recognized tribe and
• Live in a "tribal service area" and
• Have an income that is equal to, or less than, 125% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Poverty Guidelines.

TIP: See the box below to compare your income with the U.S. government’s poverty guidelines.

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What are the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines?

The federal government decides how much money you have to earn to live above the poverty line. If you made less than this amount of money, you lived below the poverty level. The guidelines change every year. In 2003, they set the poverty line at:

• $11,225 a year for one person
• $15,150 a year for two people
• $19,075 a year for a family of three
• $23,000 a year for a family of four

TIP: Add $3,925 for every extra person who lives with you.

What’s a tribal service area?

There’s more than one definition of a tribal service area. Basically, it’s the geographic area where a tribe can provide a service (in this case, HIP assistance). Generally, it’s larger than just the tribe’s reservation or rancheria.

If you live in an area that’s not considered part of your tribe’s service area, you may not qualify for housing services offered through your tribe.

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How do I apply for housing assistance (HIP) from the BIA?

Contact your tribal housing program to find out how to apply for HIP money.

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What IHAs and Tribal Housing Programs are there in California?

Here is a list of some of the Tribal Housing Programs in California. This list doesn’t include all the tribal housing programs in California.

*Membership lists of inter-tribal programs are current as of July, 2003.

All Mission Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (760) 751-5100
They serve the:

• Barona Band of Mission Indians
• Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians
• La Jolla Band of Luiseño Mission Indians
• Puama Band of Luiseño Mission Indians
• Rincon Band of Luiseño Mission Indians
• Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians
• Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians
• Soboba Band of Luiseño Mission Indians
• Viejas Group of Captain Grande Band of Mission Indians

Chico Rancheria Housing Corporation 
Phone: (530) 899-8922
They serve the:

• Mechoopda Tribe of Chico Rancheria

Chukchansi Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (559) 683-6633
They serve the:

• Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi

Cortina Indian Rancheria of Wintun Indians
Phone: (530) 473-3274
They serve the:

• Cortina Indian Rancheria of Wintun Indians

Enterprise Rancheria Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (530) 532-9214
They serve the:

• Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians

Fort Bidwell Indian Community Housing Office
Phone: (530) 279-6252
They serve the:

• Fort Bidwell Paiute Indian Community

Hoopa Valley Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (530) 625-4759
They serve the:

• Hoopa Valley Tribe

Indian Housing Authority of Central CA
Phone: (559) 271-9004
They serve the:

• Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians
• Santa Rosa Indians of the Santa Rosa Rancheria
• Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians

Karuk Tribe Housing Authority
Phone: (530) 493-5434
They serve the:

• Karuk Tribe of California

Modoc-Lassen Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (530) 596-4127
They serve the:

• Grindstone Rancheria of Wintun-Wailaki Indians
• Quartz Valley Reservation

Morongo Tribal Housing Authority
Phone: (909) 849-1127
They serve the:

• Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (707) 468-1336
They serve the:

• Berry Creek Rancheria of the Thyme-Maiou Tribe
• Guidiville Rancheria of California
• Hopland Band of Pomo Indians
• Manchester Band of Pomo Indians
• Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians
• Redwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians
• Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians

North Fork Rancheria Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (559) 877-7360
They serve the:

• North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians

Owens Valley Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (760) 876-4566
They serve the:

• Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Indians

Round Valley Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (707) 983-6188
They serve the:

• Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation

San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Housing and Community Development Program
Phone: (760) 749-3200
They serve the:

• San Pasqual Band of Diegueño Mission Indians

Scotts Valley Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (707) 277-8870
They serve the:

• Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians

Susanville Indian Rancheria Housing Authority
Phone: (530) 257-5033
They serve the:

• Susanville Indian Rancheria

Te-Moak Housing Authority
Phone: (775) 738-9238
They serve the:

• Battle Mountain Band of Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone
• Stewarts Point Rancheria – Kashia Band of Pomo

Tule River Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (559) 784-3155
They serve the:

• Tule River Indian Tribe

Yurok Indian Housing Authority
Phone: (707) 482-1506
They serve the:

• Yurok Tribe

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What if my tribe isn’t listed here?

Remember, this list doesn’t have all the tribal housing programs in California.

NOTE:  If your tribe is not listed here, contact them to find out if they have a Tribal Housing Department or Tribal Housing Agency.

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What if I live in an urban area? Where can I get help with housing?

Here is a list of some housing assistance agencies in urban areas. They may be able to help you find affordable housing in your area.

Eden Housing
409 Jackson Street
Hayward, CA 94544
Phone: (510) 582-1460
Fax: (510) 582-6523
Email: info@edenhousing.org
Web: http://www.edenhousing.org (opens new window)

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Disclaimer

This information is intended to assist you with your legal problem. Each area of the law is complex and changing. Your case may have special factors that could affect the applicability of this information. CILS does not guarantee that this information is sufficient to resolve your legal problem. If you have any questions, you should seek the advice and counsel of an attorney.

ACORN Community Legal Education Series

The Advocacy, Collaboration, and Referral Network (ACORN) is a project of CILS. ACORN’s mission is to expand access to legal resources that increase Indian self-sufficiency. This guide is part of our Community Legal Education Series, providing Indians and Indian tribes with user-friendly information and self-help assistance pertaining to their legal status and rights. ACORN Community Legal Education guides, and more information about CILS and California Indian issues, are available on our website at www.calindian.org.

California Indian Legal Services

Central Office:
510 16th Street, Fourth Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 835-0284; Fax: (510) 835-8045

Do you have a legal problem? For assistance, contact your local CILS office:

Bishop: (760) 873-3581, or (800) 736-3582
Escondido: (760) 746-8941, or (800) 743-8941
Eureka: (707) 443-8397, or (800) 347-2402
Oakland: (510) 835-0284, or (800) 829-0284
Santa Rosa: (707) 573-8016, or (866) 251-8016

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