HUD Announces $1B Worth of Measures to Help Native Communities

Two new measures announced by HUD together inject more than a billion dollars into Native American communities.

Source : Screenshot via HUD on YouTube.

March 30, 2021

Author : Alex Bustillos

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on Thursday a $450 million investment in coronavirus relief funding to various tribes. The funding is aimed at helping tribes carry out affordable housing projects.

“HUD understands the significance of our responsibility to serve American Indian and Alaska Native families, and the Department is dedicated to working in a government-to-government manner with Tribes to quickly bring much-needed relief to Tribal communities,” HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said.

The money comes in the form of Indian Housing Block Grants, with allocation “based on a formula that considers local needs and housing units managed,” according to the press release.

“Eligible activities for the funds include housing development, operation and maintenance, modernization of existing housing, housing services to eligible families and individuals, housing management services, crime prevention and safety activities, and model activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing problems in Indian Country,” the press release said. 

The announcement follows a similar one at the end of last month, which awarded $652 million for Indian Housing Block Grants, as well as $5 million for Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants.

Earlier this month, HUD also announced $5.5 billion in country-wide funding for local programs related to affordable, community development and economic activity, as well as to help support the homeless. The department recently released a report to Congress claiming that On a single night in 2020, roughly 580,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States.” The report additionally notes that homelessness increased in 2020 for a fourth consecutive year.

The $5.5 billion announced earlier this months allocates $3.4 billion to Community Development Block Grants, $1.3 billion to the HOME Investment Partnership Program, $387 million to the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, $290 million for Emergency Solutions Grants, and $25 million for the Recovery Housing Program.

Category : Tribally Designated Entity Coronavirus Pandemic Federal Government Local Government Housing and Urban Development

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