TRIBAL ALERT!
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR INDIAN HOUSING PROGRAMS AT RISK
Attention: Tribal Leaders and TDHE/Tribal Housing Directors
January 3, 2003

Funding for Indian Housing at Risk

Indian housing programs – including the NAHASDA Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG), Indian Community Development Block Grant, BIA Housing Improvement Program (HIP), and the IHS water and sewer infrastructure program – may face cuts in 2003 and 2004. According to the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) and the Coalition for Indian Housing and Development (CIHD), major Indian housing programs are at risk as Congress looks to bring spending in line with the President’s priorities and focus on Iraq and homeland security.

Funding for NAHASDA is already in its third year of flat-lined funding, and with inflation and ever-growing housing needs in Indian Country, tribes are falling further and further behind in this area. Cuts in Indian housing block grant programs will mean less opportunity for tribes to leverage federal funds to finance Indian home ownership and community/economic development initiatives on Indian reservations.

What Action Can Your Tribe Take at This Time?

Most FY 2003 appropriations bills will be finalized by the second or third week of January 2003 and the President’s FY 2004 Budget is expected to be released in early February 2003. If you support the expansion or maintenance of current funding levels for Indian housing programs, you may express your support and provide information about your tribe’s need for federal funding for housing and related infrastructure to Senators Boxer and Feinstein; your tribe’s Congressional Representative; President Bush; and the Office of Management and Budget.

For More Information

For more information about at-risk Indian housing funding, please contact Lisa Oshiro, Directing Attorney of CILS’ Washington D.C. Office, at (866) 204-1831.

Documents

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