Thread by @annymoliva

My🧵of the day: An important piece of House Financial Services’ #BuildBackBetter is funding for tribal housing. Tribal nations wouldn't be eligible for many of the other major investments in this bill, so keeping the $2B for these programs is critical for #EquitableRecovery

Inadequate funding for tribal #housing programs has meant American Indians & Alaska Natives living in tribal areas cannot access the housing supports they need. This funding would help decrease overcrowding, repair older homes, & improve climate resiliency.

Tribal #housing programs allow tribal nations to build & rehabilitate affordable housing, provide rental assistance to low-income American Indians & Alaska Natives living on tribal lands, & other housing & community development projects that meet a tribe’s unique needs.

Funding for these programs has remained relatively flat since their creation in 1996, not even keeping pace with inflation, despite an increasing population of Native Americans & higher than average rates of overcrowding & physical #housing problems in tribal areas.

A 2017 HUD study estimates that around 68,000 new homes are needed to eliminate overcrowding & replace deteriorating homes across Indian Country. Many tribes & Alaska Native villages also need additional resources to address the impacts of climate change in their communities.

Tribal governments do not receive funding for vouchers, other rental assistance, HOME, or CDBG. They are eligible for the national #Housing Trust Fund & several other smaller programs in the proposed bill, but the $2B for tribal housing programs will have the most direct impact.

Complex legal & other constraints related to land ownership on reservations & other tribal lands can add additional barriers to utilizing resources not specifically designed with these conditions in mind. That’s why this funding specifically for tribal nations is so critical.