NAIHC Launches Housing Assistance Resource Hub for Native Homeowners

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2022 /3BL Media/ - The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC), in partnership with Wells Fargo, launched a Tribal Housing Assistance Resource Hub that lists mortgage, utilities and rental assistance services offered by state and tribal programs through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The website is designed to be a tool for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian homeowners, individuals and families to find a variety of tribal housing services offered on and off tribal lands.

“It’s important for our indigenous people and families to have access to programs that can help make life a little easier during an already challenging time, and the National American Indian Housing Council’s Tribal Housing Assistance Resource Hub offers a centralized location to find tribal housing services,” said Adrian Stevens, NAIHC board chair and executive director of Seneca Housing Authority. “With funding from HAF and ERAP programs, tribes are continuing or expanding their housing assistance services to tribal members living on and off tribal land. For families across Indian Country adjusting to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, these emergency housing assistance programs can be vital to keeping a roof over their heads.”

Congress established the HAF and ERAP in response to the pandemic to help states and tribes alleviate the impacts of COVID-19. The HAF provides a minimum of $50 million for each state and $498 million collectively for tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. At the Resource Hub website, visitors can scroll over a map and click on a state to find a listing of state and tribal HAF and ERAP services as well as all housing services offered by tribal housing programs in that state, such as home loan assistance, homebuyer education, elder and veteran housing and other services.

“NAIHC appreciates our partner, Wells Fargo, for supporting housing assistance programs and offering platforms to share information, resources and opportunities for homeowners across tribal communities,” said Chair Stevens.

Over the past three years, NAIHC, with assistance from Wells Fargo Foundation, has awarded nearly 40 tribes with additional funding to provide maintenance needs for senior-owned homes and offer additional resources to address the impacts of COVID-19. Also, with help from Wells Fargo, NAIHC moved its Leadership Institute training program designed for tribal housing professionals to an online platform while continuing to provide needed technical assistance directly to tribal housing programs. The Housing Assistance Resource Hub is another project that strengthens the collaboration between NAIHC and Wells Fargo.

“Wells Fargo is proud to support the great work of NAIHC in addressing the critical housing challenges facing American Indian, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians over the last several years -- especially in advancing NAIHC’s work in keeping people housed and supporting tribal members in accessing the critical homeowner and rental assistance that is available,” said Eileen Fitzgerald, head of Wells Fargo housing affordability philanthropy.

Visit the NAIHC Tribal Housing Assistance Resource Hub at: https://naihc.net/tribal-housing-assistance-resource-hub/.

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