Thomas Lozano from Enterprise Rancheria brings over 15 years of housing experience.
SEATTLE—May 19, 2022—The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) membership gathered for the first time since 2019 and elected a new Board of Directors Chairperson during its members’ business meeting held at the AMERIND | NAIHC Annual Convention and Tradeshow in Seattle this week. Thomas Lozano, from Enterprise Rancheria, was elected to serve a two-year term edging out incumbent Chair Adrian Stevens from Seneca Housing Authority who was appointed to the position during the pandemic.
“The National American Indian Housing Council congratulates Thomas Lozano as Chair of the NAIHC Board of Directors. We look forward to working with him to advance the mission of the organization in assisting tribal housing programs across the country and protecting tribal sovereignty,” said NAIHC Executive Director Tony Walters. “It was also nice to gather our membership after two years of Covid travel restrictions to take care of business and offer in-person opportunities for our membership to learn and network from their peers and professionals in the housing industry.”
Lozano currently serves on the Enterprise Rancheria Housing Authority’s Board of Directors as well as the Tribal Council and has held both positions for 16 and 18 years, respectively. Lozano is active in the tribe’s political outreach to federal and state governments as well as policymaking and self-governance within Indian Country. Lozano also serves on several committees and boards such as the California Tribal College.
“It means a lot to be elected to be the voice that represents the nine regions to ensure equitable and fair housing for all tribal nations and to be the strong advocate on Capitol Hill representing the first peoples of this continent,” said NAIHC Board Chair-elect Thomas Lozano. “Our people need to feel safe and it’s important to maintain that sense of security and protection especially for our elders who are our oral historians and traditional keepers, and our youth who are our future and will carry on the cultural teachings. I’d like to see more transparency, communication and growth in policy change, too, that benefits tribes and tribal members, especially increased funding for the Indian Housing Block Grant and training and technical assistance.”
Chair-elect Lozano thanks the support of his mother, Armida Rosalez, a longtime Enterprise Rancheria Tribal Council Member as well as the Enterprise Housing Authority Board of Directors and NAIHC outgoing Chair Adrian Stevens.
“I was humbled to be in a room with such wisdom, history and knowledge in housing and my goal is to learn from them as much as can,” added Lozano.
