California Construction News staff writer
Native American tribes across California will receive more than $91 million in state funding to build affordable housing and provide culturally tailored solutions for homelessness prevention.
About $71 million comes from the inaugural round of the Tribal Homekey program, and $20 million will be distributed through the Tribal HHAP program. Both funding initiatives are administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
“No community is untouched by housing challenges, and across the nation, Native Americans experience higher rates of homelessness and housing insecurity. These programs — developed in partnership with tribes across the state — are designed to help address the unique challenges and needs of Native communities in terms of housing and homelessness support,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.
Ten grants will fund 172 permanent, affordable rental housing units in rural California communities. Areas set to benefit include the counties of Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Fresno, Humboldt, Lake, Los Angeles, Mendocino, and Sonoma.
Modeled on California’s Homekey program, which aims to rapidly expand housing for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, Tribal Homekey will provide critical resources for housing development in some of California’s most underserved regions.
“Native American communities experience some of the deepest disparities in homelessness rates and face unique housing challenges,” said Tomiquia Moss, Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary. “These programs are designed to take a thoughtful, coordinated approach to address these needs, and I want to thank the Department of Housing and Community Development for their continued work with tribes to help create safe, affordable housing.”
The state is awarding $20 million in conditional grants through the Tribal HHAP program. This funding will support 37 federally recognized tribes across California in implementing culturally appropriate interventions to prevent and address homelessness. The Tribal HHAP program, which saw a 68% increase in applications this year, is aimed at providing direct assistance to Native American communities and addressing homelessness through unique, locally driven solutions.
“Housing challenges within California’s tribal communities are multifaceted, and our department is committed to making sure the funding we provide is tailored to the needs of each tribe,” said Gustavo Velasquez, director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. “We are proud to partner with tribes to reduce the barriers they face when accessing housing programs and ensure that the resources reach those who need them most.”
