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TRIBAL ALERT! Did you know?The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) is up for a six-year reauthorization. In the coming weeks, Congress will be deliberating reauthorization of NAHASDA and proposed amendments to correct deficiencies to NAHASDA. One of the amendments being proposed is base-level needs funding for all tribes. This can have a dramatic impact on the amount of funding for new housing that California Indian Tribes receive. What is this amendment about?The Nevada/California Indian Housing Association (Nevada/Cal) has prepared a draft amendment that would guarantee every Tribe, regardless of the size of its reservation or membership, a minimum funding allocation of .05% of each fiscal year’s appropriation under the "needs" component of NAHASDA’s funding formula. Currently under the needs component of the NAHASDA funding formula, many California Tribes receive little to no funding necessary to carry out their housing programs and to fund new housing construction. Attached is a copy of Nevada/Cal’s proposed amendment to NAHASDA that would ensure that all California Tribes who demonstrate housing need will receive this new funding. The second part of the Nevada/Cal draft amendment contains language which proposes that no single housing grant (both the needs component and the maintenance component) under NAHASDA will exceed 10% of the total amount appropriated by Congress in any fiscal year. What action can your Tribe take at this time?If your Tribe supports the minimum base-level funding amendment, you may express your support of this initiative by fax or e-mail (regular mail may not be received in time due to continuing delays) to every California and Nevada Senator, Senators Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, John Ensign, and Harry Reid, as well as your House Representative. If you need further information, please contact Jenny Kim of CILS’ Housing Practice Group at (510) 835-0284, extension 318. DocumentsAlert (PDF - opens new window) |