Native American Leaders Call for Reauthorization of National Housing Bill at 50th Annual Convention

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) celebrates “50 Years of Building Futures” at its 50th Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida from June 24 to June 27, 2024.

This year, Tribal leaders representing more than one million citizens are urgently calling on Congress to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) which expired in 2013. The law governs funding, operation and maintenance of thousands of homes nationwide for 574 Tribes.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr

Featured speakers on Tuesday include Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. (460,000 citizens), Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren (420,000 citizens) and Tlingit & Haida President Richard Petersen (200,000 citizens) who will speak about success stories, challenges in housing construction, and the need for increased funding to provide homes and infrastructure.

Bob Gauthier, a key figure in the formation of NAHASDA who directed Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes housing for 20 years, opens the plenary Tuesday. Assistant Secretary of Interior Bryan Newland, representing Sec. Deb Haaland, will speak on Thursday, June 27th.

NAHASDA grants provide affordable housing that benefit low-income families living on Indian reservations and Alaska Native communities. The law expired in 2013, leaving Native housing entities to rely on year-to-year appropriations. The House plans to slash funding by 10% in FY 2025 for programs governed by the Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD). These cuts will hurt Native American communities.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren

The subcommittee will review the FY25 THUD bill on June 27, with a full committee review scheduled for July 10, 2024. Leaders from Tribal nationwide continue to call for increased funding and reauthorization of NAHASDA to meet essential housing needs of millions of Native Americans.

The conference offers a wide variety of training sessions providing the latest information on tribal housing programs, including:

Tlingit Haida President Richard Petersen

Aligning Housing with Community Needs

THVASH: 2015 To Present, What We Know Now

DOE Grants: Clean Energy Funds for Tribal Housing

Construction Cost Impact

            Housing and Community Development

All Hazard Plans for Tribal Housing

Preparing Citizens for Homeownership Success

LIHTC to Homeownership

USDA Rural Development Homeownership and Repair Opportunities

Innovations in Housing

Title VI: The Misunderstood Loan Program

Using ARP Funds: Safe Housing Options for Survivors

The convention also offers networking opportunities to connect with Tribal housing professionals, community development stakeholders, and legal experts supporting Tribal housing initiatives. To register and see agenda, visit NAIHC’s official event page.

Please join as we reflect on 50 Years of Building Futures and paving the way for the next half-century of progress in Native American housing. More information will be coming this week. For media inquiries, please contact NAIHC Executive Director Douglas Marconi Sr. at mediacommunications@naihc.net or (202) 454-0943.