By Kayla Blackwell, NLIHC Senior Housing Policy Analyst and Sarita Kelkar, NLIHC Policy Intern
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the “Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996” (NAHASDA), HUD has prepared several resources under “NAHASDA30”—an initiative to reflect on the significance of the legislation while offering opportunities for Tribes to share their voices, perspectives, and the impact of the critical housing legislation. NAHASDA30 resources include videos, graphics, and a communications toolkit with event suggestions, photo guidance, key messages, a fact sheet, and more. The toolkit also provides a background on the history of NAHASDA and how NAHASDA serves Native communities, emphasizing a growing movement toward Tribal self-determination within federal housing policy.
NAHASDA acts as the primary federal statute to address housing in Tribal communities, where overcrowding, poverty, and unemployment are some of the challenges facing Tribal communities. NAHASDA stands out as the largest source of affordable housing funding for Native communities, and in many rural areas, acts as the single source of funding for affordable housing. NAHASDA has two main components: the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) and the Title VI Tribal Housing Activities Loan Guarantee Program. Through these programs, HUD provides annual, formula-driven block grant funding directly to Tribes and financing guarantees for private market loans to develop affordable housing: an effort to recognize Tribal sovereignty by reinforcing Tribes’ ability to evaluate local housing issues.
NLIHC works in partnership with Tribal housing advocates to urge Congress to fully fund Tribal housing programs, reauthorize NAHASDA, and expand Tribal access to other HUD programs.
Access NAHASDA30 resources here.
Learn more about Native American housing in NLIHC’s 2025 Advocate’s Guide, “Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Programs” here.