National American Indian Housing Council
Advocating for Tribal Housing
Member Survey: Impacts of Government Shutdown on Tribal Housing Services
The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is gathering information from Tribal Housing Authorities and TDHEs to understand how the federal government shutdown is affecting housing programs, services, and funding flows in Tribal communities.
Your input will help NAIHC share real-time impacts with federal partners, advocate for prompt solutions, and ensure that delayed or interrupted housing funds are restored as quickly as possible once operations resume.
Grassroots Advocacy for Tribal Housing
More than Just a Roof: Advocating for Quality Housing in Tribal Communities
Over 25 years, Tribal housing programs have utilized the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, or NAHASDA, to improve housing opportunities throughout tribal communities. NAHASDA is a critical mechanism for Tribal housing programs to receive funding while providing more control over affordable housing decisions and flexibility to address specific housing needs. Although NAHASDA expired in 2013, Congress still funds its programs each year. Reauthorizing NAHASDA would provide tribal housing programs with greater certainty to provide services and resources for the next decade. Join NAIHC in urging Congress to reauthorize NAHASDA.
NAIHC encourages tribal housing directors, board members, and advocates to meet with their respective Senators and Representatives in Washington, DC, and their home districts. Contact NAIHC when your tribal and program representatives visit Washington, DC, for assistance scheduling meetings with Congressional and federal officials.
Join the Monthly Legislative Committee Meeting
Join our Legislative Committee on the first Thursday of every month at 1:00 p.m. ET to learn more about the latest Tribal legislative updates, grant announcements, and other policy and program updates from NAIHC and other partners.
Advocacy Materials
Tribal leaders, housing program directors, board members, and advocates are welcome to use and share NAIHC’s talking points and one-pagers on current legislative and funding priorities.
NAIHC created these documents to help guide future advocacy work and promote tribal housing funding opportunities in each Congressional cycle.
Supporting Materials
- 119th Policy Priorities (PDF)
- Indian Housing History / Under NAHASDA (PDF)
- Sample Tribal Resolution
- Sample Support Letter for NAHASDA for NAIHC Members
- Key Committees – NAHASDA
- One-page background on NAHASDA and recent legislative activity
Contact Blythe McWhirter at bmcwhirter@naihc.net for questions or more information.
Current Tribal Housing Priorities
- Reauthorize NAHASDA
- Makes the THUD-VASH a permanent program
- Streamlines environmental review process
- Provides housing assistance for Native students
- Allows IHS funding to be used for sanitation facilities construction
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Reintroduce the following bills:
- The NAHASDA Reauthorization Act
- Extends federal housing assistance programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians with revisions to streamline and expand allowable housing activities.
- The Native American Rural Homeownership Improvement Act
- Permanently authorizes Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to deploy USDA Section 502 Single Family Home Loan funds to Native Americans.
- The Tribal HUD-VASH Act
- Provides permanent statutory authority for the Tribal HUD-VASH program.
- The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act
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Modernizes the Bureau of Indian Affairs residential leasing, mortgage approval, and Title Status Report (TSR) processes to enhance access to mortgage capital on trust land.
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- The Tribal Rural Housing Access Act
- Sets aside 5% of select RHS program funding for Tribes and TDHEs.
- The Tribal Tax Investment and Reform Act
- Treats Indian tribal governments as states for tax-exempt bond allocations and repeals limitations on their eligibility to issue tax-exempt bonds.
- The Inspiring Nationally Vibrant Economies Sustaining Tribes (INVEST) Act
- Expands access to New Markets Tax Credits to assist Native American communities.
- The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act
- Directs state allocation plan selection criteria for Low-income Housing Tax credits to include the housing needs of Native Americans and prioritizes housing developments in Indian Areas.
Tribal Spotlight Series
Every day, NAIHC is working hard to protect funding for critical Tribal housing programs and build momentum for the long-overdue reauthorization of NAHASDA. As we continually meet with members of Congress, federal agencies, and national partners, we know that your stories are the most powerful advocacy tools we have. We’re asking for your help in bringing those stories to life.
Please share any project descriptions, photos, and/or videos that provide a visual of how your Tribe, Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE), or Urban Indian organization has utilized NAHASDA funding to create innovative housing solutions in your community. By completing this form, you are demonstrating interest in being contacted by NAIHC to share additional project details. If you would like to opt out of further outreach, please indicate so on the final question of the form.
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