The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced awards totaling $150.9 million for new affordable and innovative housing investments in Tribal communities. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard Monocchio made the announcement today in Anchorage, Alaska, where he presented $6 million to the Cook Inlet Housing Authority to build 51 new housing units to increase the number of homes available to low-income Alaskan Native families.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to work alongside our Tribal partners to help them meet the housing needs that exist in Indian Country,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “These funds will help build and repair homes desperately needed right now.”
The Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive funds play a crucial role in bolstering vibrant American Indian and Alaska Native communities. These funds are designated for various purposes, such as new construction, rehabilitation, and infrastructure to support affordable housing within Indian reservations and similar areas. The IHBG Competitive program holds particular significance for Tribal communities as it injects essential financial resources for the construction of new affordable housing for disadvantaged Tribal families.
“I am pleased to be here in Anchorage to make this announcement where Tribes, who often face unique obstacles when it comes to constructing new affordable housing, are able to use the Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive awards to better serve Native families,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard Monocchio. “This Administration will continue to prioritize Nation-to-Nation relations and funding for Native American housing. As I’ve seen through my visits with Tribes across the nation, investing in Indian Country is highly impactful.”
This funding serves as a valuable addition to the yearly IHBG formula funding, which often falls short in covering the expenses of constructing new homes and is typically allocated for the operation and upkeep of current housing. HUD looks forward to seeing these projects become a reality.