HUD's Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) administers housing and community development programs that benefit American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments, tribal members, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Native Hawaiians, and other Native American organizations.
ONAP's mission is to:
- Increase the supply of safe, decent, and affordable housing available to Native American families
- Strengthen communities by improving living conditions and creating economic opportunities for tribes and Indian housing residents; and
- Ensure fiscal integrity in the operation of the programs it administers
ONAP's programs are:
Program Accomplishments Positively Impact Indian Country
Program accomplishments have immediate and dramatic positive effects on Native American communities. They directly contribute to such long-term outcomes as:
- An increased supply of safe, decent, and affordable housing for Native American families
- Fair and ample credit opportunities for Native American homebuyers
- Healthier economies and better employment opportunities
Native Hawaiian Programs
In 18 years of program activity – 2002 through 2019 – the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has used the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant to build, acquire, or rehabilitate 706 affordable homes on the Hawaiian home lands. In addition, 2,211 individuals and families have received housing services such as pre- and post-homebuyer education, financial literacy training, and/or self-help home repair training to sustain safe, decent homes. Approximately 693 lots have been improved with infrastructure development to support construction of new homes, and 3 community centers have been rehabilitated. Also between 2005 and 2019, HUD guaranteed 699 loans for approximately $174.8 million to Native Hawaiian homeowners eligible to reside on the Hawaiian home lands.
Indian Housing Block Grant
HUD estimates that, over the life of the program (funding years 1998-2019), recipients have used Indian Housing Block Grants to build or acquire 40,835 affordable housing units, and rehabilitate more than 96,000. In addition, recipients have used Indian Housing Block Grants to, for example, acquire real property for housing, install housing infrastructure, improve energy efficiency of affordable homes, remediate and prevent mold infestation, and operate and manage affordable housing. Flexible program rules allow recipients to design innovative housing assistance programs that meet their unique needs and customs.
Indian Community Development Block Grant
In 2018, approximately $63 million was distributed to 86 grantees to fund community development projects that primarily benefit low- and middle-income residents. Recent projects funded by these grants include the construction of community facilities for elderly, low-income residents, the installation of solar panels on rental housing, the renovation of old sewer lines, and the development of a group home for homeless youth. These grants are also used to address emergencies faced by tribal communities such as tornados, floods, fires, and contaminated water systems.
Loan Guarantees for Indian Housing
In 2018, HUD guaranteed 3,147 loans to build, buy, rehabilitate, or refinance homes for American Indian and Alaska Native families; the average loan amount was approximately $182,608. Approximately 44,351 families have been assisted in the program’s 24-year history.