Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds Hearing on Tribal Housing Needs
Sep 21, 2026
By Kayla Blackwell, NLIHC Senior Housing Policy Analyst
On September 16, the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) held a hearing, “Examining Housing Needs in Native Communities,” in which the “Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026” (NAHASDA Modernization Act) was discussed. NAHASDA is the primary statue governing Tribal housing development and has lacked reauthorization since 2013. Witnesses included Bryan Warner, deputy principal chief of the Cherokee Nation; Hilary Atkin, acting deputy assistant secretary for Native American Programs; and Dr. Alicia Puente Cackley, director of financial markets and community investment at the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Senators and witnesses testified to the lack of housing supply and safety issues in Tribal communities, a new report from the GAO, and the need to reauthorize NAHASDA.
In opening remarks, Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) highlighted the need to reauthorize NAHASDA, which was enacted 30 years ago, and the urgency in updating the policy to meet the housing challenges of the next 30 years. Addressing the recent bipartisan housing legislation (“21st Century ROAD to Housing Act”), Murkowski showcased the need to address housing needs in Tribal communities on par with housing investments outside of Tribal communities. Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK) introduced Cherokee Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, acknowledging the deputy principal chief’s focus on education and healthcare.
Witnesses presented Tribal data and community-level stories on the housing needs of Tribal nations. Deputy Principal Chief Warner testified on behalf of the 477,000 citizens of the Cherokee Nation and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), focusing his testimony on Tribal sovereignty, noting that “Tribal nations are best situated to decide [for] their communities” how to address their housing needs. Since 2019, Cherokee has constructed 39 homes and expanded opportunities for veterans thanks to NAHASDA programs. Housing has also been a tool for preserving language and culture, thanks to investments in community stability. “Good housing policy builds strong Tribal nations,” stated Deputy Principal Chief Warner.
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Atkin thanked SCIA committee staff for their work drafting NAHASDA reauthorizing legislation and listening to Tribal communities. Atkin stated that HUD upholds the solemn trust and treaty responsibility to Tribal nations and affirmed that Secretary Turner is committed to working with Tribal communities. NAHASDA has helped to build, acquire, and rehabilitate over 160,000 homes thanks to NAHASDA’s local and flexible model. “Tribes are best positioned to develop solutions that reflect the unique circumstances of their communities,” Atkin stated.
Dr. Puente Cackley shared preliminary observations from a GAO report on housing and homelessness in Native communities. Dr. Cackley summarized the diverse housing challenges faced by Native communities, including poor conditions, overcrowding, and homelessness, and the 30 federal programs providing grants or mortgage assistance to Tribal communities to address these issues. Dr. Cackley stated that federal funds do not meet all housing needs, and rising construction costs and program restrictions have limited Tribes’ ability to fully address housing and homelessness. Highlighting one example in Teller, Alaska, Dr. Cackley detailed the negative effects of overcrowding, including humidity and mold, leading to both health issues for residents and broader housing stock limitations once housing becomes uninhabitable. According to one Tribe in South Dakota, community members face such overcrowding that 400 to 500 additional units are needed to adequately house the current population.
Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV) posed questions to witnesses concerning the specifics of NAHASDA programs. Senator Smith recognized White Earth Nation Chairman Michael Fairbanks, a Tribal leader in the audience, and observed the need to amend the Continuum of Care (CoC) program to make the homelessness program better able to serve Tribal communities. Senator Cortez-Masto focused on housing and supportive services, bringing attention to the success of the Tribal HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs-Supportive Housing) program. In addition to emphasizing the flexibility of NAHASDA programs, Cortez-Masto highlighted the PRICE program (Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement) as a potential source of funding for Tribal communities to address manufactured housing needs.
NLIHC will continue to monitor and advocate for NAHASDA reauthorization.
Watch the recording of the hearing and read witness statements.
Read a fact sheet from NLIHC and Tribal partners.