FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAIHC Collaborates with Wells Fargo on Home Repair Program Targeting Seniors
(February 13, 2020; Washington, DC) – The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) and Wells Fargo have announced a $600,000 pilot program to carry out housing repairs for senior homeowners in tribal communities.
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.
Under the NAIHC Rehab Program, tribes will be able to carry out repairs such as accessibility improvements, heating and air conditioning maintenance/installation, new roofs or plumbing improvements. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released a report on the Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas, which found that tribal homes experience rates of substandard plumbing at 4.3 times the national average and substandard heating at 6 times the national average. Grants under the NAIHC Rehab Program can target these much-needed improvements.
NAIHC developed the program criteria and application process and is ready to invite tribal housing programs to apply for funds. Applications are due by Friday, March 13, 2020. NAIHC members may apply for up to $30,000 under the program and, if selected, will be able to assist senior homeowners in their communities with up to $10,000 in rehab or repair work to each home.
“I’m excited that NAIHC will for the first time be able to provide direct grants for home repairs across Indian Country,” said Gary Cooper, chairman of the board of directors for NAIHC. “During the pilot, NAIHC will make sure our members throughout the various regions will be able to participate and access this funding for much-needed repairs in their communities. We’d like to thank the Wells Fargo Foundation for its commitment to improve housing and economic development in tribal communities.”
Tony Walters, Executive Director of NAIHC said, “NAIHC is excited to pilot this type of direct grant funding to our members to help homeowners in Indian Country. NAIHC has always exposed tribal housing programs to new funding sources, but a lot of times federal and private funding just doesn’t make it to tribal communities. By partnering with Wells Fargo for this home rehab initiative, NAIHC will be able to ensure that these funds make it directly to tribes and specifically to those elder Natives who otherwise would not be able to afford home repairs.”
Over the past two 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. In the past year, NAIHC has provided its “Pathways Home” homebuyer education course to more than 150 tribal housing professionals, who have then been able to provide counseling to more than 2,300 prospective homebuyers in Indian Country. For 20 years, NAIHC has been certifying tribal housing professionals through its Leadership Institute and is close to launching the first of those training courses online through assistance provided by Wells Fargo.
“Wells Fargo has been serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities for more than 50 years,” said Connie Wright, senior vice president of housing affordability philanthropy for Wells Fargo Foundation. “When we launched the housing counseling initiative last year with NAIHC, we recognized there was a need to repair homes for seniors aging in place on tribal land. We are thrilled to help empower tribal communities gain access to healthy, safe housing.”
For additional information, please contact LindaLee Retka, NAIHC Program Director at 218-343-7662 or [email protected]
All applications for the NAIHC Rehab Program must be submitted online through the form in the link below.
