Tester announces grants to support Native American housing

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today announced support for affordable housing assistance for Montana’s federally recognized tribes.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is issuing over $26 million in grants for Montana tribes that can be used by the tribes and tribal housing authorities to construct, acquire, or modernize housing for low income families. The funds were made available through Indian Block Grants under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA).

“Safe and reliable housing is critical to the health of communities and families, so making these investments will help address the housing needs in Indian Country,” said Tester, Vice-Chair of the Indian Affairs Committee. “I will continue to work with tribes to increase and expand housing options for all Montana families.”

Tester supports the reauthorization of NAHASDA which provides approximately $650 million per year to eligible tribal housing authorities across the country.

Montana’s tribes received the following amount under the Indian Housing Block Grants:

• Crow, $2.6 million
• Ft. Peck, $5.5 million
• Blackfeet, $7.1 million
• Rocky Boy’s, $3 million
• Confederated Salish and Kootenai, $4.2 million
• Ft. Belknap, $1.6 million
• Northern Cheyenne, $2.8 million

Tester is also pushing for the reauthorization of the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program designed for tribal members to receive loans for new construction, refinancing, or purchasing a home.