Senate reauthorizes NAHASDA

APRIL HALE

National American Indian Housing Council

WASHINGTON – The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) applauds the US Senate’s July 27 passage of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) by an amendment that was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a 86-11 vote. NAHASDA, which has not been reauthorized since 2013, is the largest and most effective federal housing program that assists tribes in providing safe, quality and affordable housing to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities.

The NAHASDA amendment

#1078, introduced by Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Chairman Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Vice Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), reauthorizes NAHASDA for seven years with reforms to foster greater local control over NAHASDA programming, streamline environmental reviews for tribal housing projects and incentivize private partnerships.

“The success of NAHASDA and tribal housing programs stems from NAHASDA’s self-determination roots which allow tribes to develop their own Indian Housing Plan to fit the housing needs and priorities of their communities, and it also provides the flexibility tribes need to carry out their programs. Tribes know best how to take care of their own citizens,” said NAIHC Chairman Thomas Lozano.

NAHASDA was passed in 1996 to streamline tribes’ access to housing program dollars by consolidating multiple programs into a single block grant – the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG). However, with the lack of increased appropriations to

NAHASDA programs, tribes are piecing their housing programs together by finding resources from different programs across the federal government. Without reauthorization, NAHASDA program funding has remained stagnant for over a decade.

“By creating their own Indian Housing Plan, tribes can prioritize senior assisted housing, rental assistance or homeownership. Reauthorization of NAHASDA means increased resources and stronger programming,” said NAIHC Executive Director Chelsea Fish.