Despite it being a budget-constrained year due to the bipartisan debt limit legislation, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) saw one of the most significant increases in HUD’s Native American Programs. The ‘minibus’ appropriations package, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, provided $1.34 billion for Native American Programs, a $324 million increase (32%) above the FY23 enacted. This includes $1.11 billion for the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG), formula, a $324 million (41%) increase above FY23 enacted.
However, more work is needed to ensure that Native Housing Programs keep pace with the increasing need and rising costs caused by inflation. During her testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, Tonya Plummer, Enterprise’s Director of Native American Housing Programs, highlighted that funding for the program has not kept pace with the need and inflation since its inception.
From 2014 to 2021, the program experienced significant periods of stagnation, especially when compared to the total HUD budget, which saw steady growth. Only recently has the IHBG program received significant increases, and even still, it does not keep pace with the increases made to other HUD programs.
We thank Congress for making this significant increase to this vital program. We are especially grateful for the leadership of House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK-5), who served as the subcommittee chair for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) during FY24 and has consistently championed this overdue increase.
With FY25 being another budget-constrained year due to budget caps, we cannot return to periods of low-to-no growth. Congress must continue providing funding increases to sustain this program while keeping pace with needs and adjusting for inflation.
Congress must also permanently authorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) through the NAHASDA Reauthorization Act of 2023 to ensure that its programs are authorized for the next decade with adequate funding levels and that legal and regulatory barriers for Native American and Tribal communities are removed.
Enterprise looks forward to engaging Congress with our partners to continue making pushes for these vital programs in FY25.
