Homeless Assistance Act advances in U.S. House

Bipartisan legislation to allow tribally designated housing entities access to funds to combat homelessness on tribal lands passed the U.S. House on Monday, Nov. 18.

The action was hailed by Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash, who introduced H.R. 4029 in July, as a small but important step in combatting Indian Country’s housing crisis.

“Indian Country is experiencing pervasive homelessness and overcrowding, caused by a shortage of affordable housing,” Heck said. “By establishing tribal eligibility for federal assistance, we can improve tribes’ ability to effectively combat homelessness and potentially help tens of thousands of people in Indian Country.”

The measure would amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to give tribes access to grants under the Continuum of Care Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Co-sponsors include Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who said the bill takes important steps to expand tribes’ access to services to help the homeless.

The U.S. Senate counterpart of the legislation, S.2282, introduced in July by Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., is still in committees in the Senate.

Adrian Stevens, vice chair of the board of the National American Indian Housing Council, and executive director of the Seneca Nation Housing Authority, said that NAIHC looks forward to working the Senate to ensure final passage of the bill.

Advertisement

Current federal housing legislation requires communities to organize under the umbrella of a local or regional playing system, called a Continuum of Care, before submitting applications for homeless assistance grants. If the new legislation is passed, tribal entities would also be eligible to administer and coordinate homeless assistance grants within their geographic area.

Advertisement