FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAIHC continues collaboration with Wells Fargo to combat COVID impacts on tribal housing
(January 6, 2020; Washington, DC) – The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) and Wells Fargo have announced a new Housing Assistance grant program to assist tribal housing programs carry out their COVID-19 response projects.
The grant will provide nearly $1 million combined to twenty tribal housing programs to bolster their responses to COVID-19, which could include direct rental or mortgage assistance for tribal members in those communities.
This collaboration between NAIHC and the Wells Fargo Foundation continues their work together, which over the past three years has focused on homebuyer education courses, both in-person and online, and a $600,000 grant program to provide for home maintenance and rehabilitation for tribal elders. Many of those rehab projects are still ongoing, due to tribes’ safety measures in light of the pandemic.
The grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation are one component of Wells Fargo’s 5-year, $50 million philanthropic commitment to American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Wells Fargo announced their AI/AN commitment at NAIHC’s Legal Symposium in December of 2017 and has been working with tribal organizations like NAIHC since that time to address various community development needs. In addition, Wells Fargo Foundation donated $70 million through more than 1,400 grants focused on advancing housing affordability solutions and relief for people disproportionately affected by the economic downturn as a result of COVID-19.
Under the NAIHC COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program, tribes awarded a grant will be able to use the funds to bolster their existing housing development projects established in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Many tribal communities contain high levels of overcrowded homes which make it difficult for tribal families to practice safe social distancing or quarantining. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Tribes have spent this year developing emergency housing projects to alleviate those overcrowded conditions. Tribes can also use the grant funds to help provide direct rental and mortgage assistance payments for members in their community.
NAIHC developed the program criteria and application process and is ready to invite tribal housing programs to apply for funds. The application period will run longer to accommodate the holidays, and applications will be due by Friday, January 22, 2020. NAIHC members may apply for up to $44,000 under the program to carry out their COVID-19 response activities.
“I’m excited to continue our collaboration with the Wells Fargo Foundation,” said Adrian Stevens, Acting-Chairperson of the NAIHC Board of Directors. “All of our tribal communities have been impacted by COVID-19, so it is great to see our industry partners join with us to help tribes respond to the pandemic.”
Connie Wright, senior vice president of housing affordability philanthropy for the Wells Fargo Foundation announced the collaboration at NAIHC’s 2020 Legal Symposium. “Wells Fargo has served American Indian and Alaska Native communities for more than 50 years and the pandemic has increased the need for housing support,” said Wright. “A safe, healthy home is a key foundation to wellness, dignity, and economic opportunity. This support is just one more way we’re working together to address the housing crisis on tribal lands.”
Tony Walters, Executive Director of NAIHC said, “We’re always excited when we can provide direct assistance back to our tribal programs. It is rare that we can find the resources that allows us to carry out this type of program, so this Covid-19 Housing Assistance Program is a testament to the relationship that has been built between NAIHC and the Wells Fargo Foundation.”
Over the past three years, NAIHC has worked with Wells Fargo to provide increased homebuyer education through its “Pathways Home” curriculum and for the first time is beginning to offer NAIHC housing professionals training courses online. With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down in-person trainings, NAIHC has had to pivot its Training and Technical Assistance services to a virtual setting, and the resources from Wells Fargo helped jump start that effort.
To view the NAIHC COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program Guidelines, click here.
All applications for the NAIHC COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program must be submitted online through the form found here.
CONTACT: Anthony Walters, Executive Director (202) 789-1754