HUD Announces Nearly $20.5 Million to Produce Affordable Housing in Native American Communities in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced nearly $20.5 million  to 11 Native American tribes in Wisconsin (see list below).  Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) allocations are distributed each year to eligible Indian tribes or their tribally designated housing entities for a range of affordable housing activities. Nationwide, HUD announced a total of more than $651 million to 636 Native American tribes in 34 states throughout the country.

IHBG funds primarily benefit low-income families living on Indian reservations or in other American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The amount of each grant is based on a formula that considers local needs and housing units under management by the tribe or designated entity.

“Our nation is at its best when everyone has a fair chance to thrive,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “These funds will support the innovative work Native American tribes and families are doing to build a more prosperous future.  Our partnership with these local leaders today will create better housing opportunities, more robust economic development and stronger communities tomorrow.”

“In Wisconsin, this funding will promote economic development and neighborhood stabilization while increasing opportunities for affordable housing in our tribal communities,” said Antonio R. Riley, HUD’s Midwest Regional Administrator.

Eligible activities for the funds include housing development, assistance to housing developed under the Indian Housing Program of the 1937 Housing Act, housing services to eligible families and individuals, housing management services, crime prevention and safety, and model activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing problems. The block grant approach to housing was enabled by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).

HUD’s proposed Fiscal Year 2016 Budget seeks $748 million to address critical housing and community development needs in Native American communities throughout the U.S., including $660 million for IHBG allocations.

Recipient	Amount
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa	$1,473,108
Forest County Potawatomi Community of Wisconsin	$355,788
Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin	$4,222,854
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin	$2,704,134
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of WI	$1,566,075
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin	$2,600,456
Oneida Tribe  of Indians of Wisconsin	$3,623,676
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin	$1,118,509
Sokaogon Chippewa Community	$919,121
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin	$1,395,796
Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Wisconsin	$515,496

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.