The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has pledged approximately $20 million to Native American communities in a bid to bolster infrastructure projects. This initiative forms part of HUD's commitment to uphold its responsibilities towards tribal Nations, respecting their sovereignty while enabling them to flourish.
This allocation follows a previous disbursement by HUD of $75 million to tribal nations in July 2023 through the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program, as per the news release. The current tranche of funding will be directed towards 11 communities for the enhancement of infrastructure, community buildings, housing renovation, land acquisition, economic development and other initiatives aimed at promoting the wellbeing of Native American and Alaskan Native families residing in tribal areas.
HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge commented on this development, saying, "This critical funding will help Tribal Nations meet the needs of their communities and build towards their futures. Our Administration is proud to fulfill its responsibility to our Tribal Nations in ways that respect their sovereignty and allow them to thrive."
According to the same news release, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will expedite the availability of these funds with a view to quickly channeling ICDBG money into the concerned communities. Residents living in areas where these projects are slated for implementation will have an opportunity to provide input during the design phase. Several entities including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan, Lower Brule Housing Authority in South Dakota and various tribal communities within Montana such as Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority, Fort Peck Housing Authority and Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority are set to receive $2 million each.
Richard Monocchio, principal deputy assistant secretary for public and Indian housing expressed his views on this initiative: "Seeing firsthand the incredible work tribes are doing on behalf of their communities is inspiring. We continue to meet emerging needs in Indian Country with this funding, and there is no better investment than supporting Tribes to develop innovative solutions for complex challenges."
