Antonia Gonzales

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are proposing to update a key housing law for Tribal Nations, as communities across Indian Country continue to face severe housing shortages. Last week, U.S. Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT) introduced the American Housing and Self-Determination Modernization Act. The legislation would modernize and reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA), which provides federal funding for tribal housing programs, but it has not been fully reauthorized in more than a decade. Rep. Downing said in a press release that “Homeownership is the foundation of the American dream – that doesn’t stop with Americans in our tribal communities.” The new act would increase funding and give tribes more flexibility to build, repair, and manage housing, Downing says. He said that, across Indian Country, many Native families are living in overcrowded homes with multiple generations sharing limited space. During that time, tribal leaders say the need has only grown. Mark Maca