Housing and
Communications Technology—
Extending the Federal Trust Responsibility
American Indians have the lowest homeownership rates and pay a higher percentage of their income for housing than any other minority group living in urban areas. Federal housing programs, local government housing programs, and public housing authorities have either failed to serve off-reservation Indians, or have failed to provide adequate outreach regarding the availability of their services.
The “digital divide” is another major area of concern for Native Americans. Only 68% of American Indian homes currently have telephone service, compared to the national average of 95%; and, only 10% of American Indian households on tribal lands have internet access. Native Americans are at risk of falling even further behind in access to employment and education opportunities arising from information technology.
The Native American Project is working with Indian community-based organizations to advance policies and programs that would extend the federal government’s trust responsibility to Indians living off the reservation, particularly around affordable housing, homeownership, and information technology.
(For a discussion about the federal “trust” responsibility, click on “The U.S. Has a Special ‘Trust’ Obligation”.)
The Native American Project, through NAIDC, is organizing Indian leadership to win:
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A $10 million HUD Community Development Block Grant set-aside that would provide for:
- The development of at least 150 affordable homeownership units in off-reservation communities; and,
- Capacity-building assistance to Indian community development organizations so that they will increase homeownership and expand the development and sustainability of affordable housing in off-reservation Indian communities.
(Click here for more information about the Homeownership Initiative)
- Passage of the Native American Connectivity Act, which would provide universal, affordable access to telecommunication and information technology in Indian Country. This Act would provide $20 million in block grants for the development and deployment of telecommunications and information technology infrastructure throughout Native communities.
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