After Delivering Record Funding for Native American Housing Block Grant, Senator Murray Announces Nearly $75 Million to Address Housing Challenges in WA Tribal Communities 

As Appropriations Chair, Murray delivered a record $1.111 billion for the Indian Housing Block Grant—a $324 million increase over last year—despite budget caps

Senator Murray: “The Indian Housing Block Grant program is the most important tool we have to fund affordable housing for Tribal communities, and as Appropriations Chair, I fought hard to deliver record funding despite tough budget caps.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced nearly $75 million in grants for 29 Tribes throughout Washington state through the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program. The IHBG is the largest source of federal resources for housing for Tribal communities—providing flexible funding for the construction for new affordable housing, rental assistance, housing improvements and rehabilitation, and other supportive housing-related services. Murray has fought to secure funding for the IHBG program every year, and this year as Appropriations Chair, she was able to secure a record $1.111 billion for the program—a $324 million increase over last year—in the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development spending bill signed into law in March. Native Americans are twice as likely to live in poverty and nearly three times more likely to live in overcrowded conditions compared to other U.S. households. 

“Finding a safe and affordable place to live continues to be a serious challenge for families across Washington state, especially for folks in Tribal communities who face higher rates of poverty and are more likely to live in overcrowded and unsafe conditions,” said Senator Murray. “The Indian Housing Block Grant program is the most important tool we have to support housing for Tribal communities, and as Appropriations Chair, I fought hard to deliver record funding despite tough budget caps. This money will help build new affordable housing in Tribal communities and improve existing housing—it will make a difference for Native American families all across our state.”

The 29 Washington state Tribes awarded funding include:

1. $1,739,605 for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in Oakville
2. $10,345,179 for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Nespelem
3. $3,821,189 for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe in Longview
4. $246,141 for the Hoh Indian Tribe in Forks
5. $627,646 for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Sequim
6. $556,414 for the Kalispel Indian Community in Usk
7. $1,068,102 for the Lower Elwha Tribal Community in Port Angeles
8. $6,254,448 for the Lummi Tribe in Bellingham
9. $1,183,114 for the Makah Indian Tribe in Neah Bay
10. $2,214,030 for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe in Auburn
11. $1,050,399 for the Nisqually Indian Tribe in Olympia
12. $1,493,135 for the Nooksack Indian Tribe in Deming
13. $1,803,250 for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in Kingston
14. $6,363,722 for the Puyallup Tribe in Tacoma
15. $649,322 for the Quileute Tribe in La Push
16. $3,737,183 for the Quinault Indian Nation in Taholah
17. $2,339,588 for the Samish Indian Nation in Anacortes
18. $711,138 for the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe in Darrington
19. $402,260 for the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe in Tokeland
20. $1,015,634 for the Skokomish Indian Tribe in Skokomish Nation
21. $565,474 for the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe in Snoqualmie
22. $4,353,440 for the Spokane Tribe in Wellpinit
23. $1,493,837 for the Squaxin Island Tribe in Shelton
24. $355,114 for the Stillaguamish Tribe in Arlington
25. $1,580,259 for the Suquamish Indian Tribe in Suquamish
26. $1,737,511 for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in La Conner
27. $5,405,201 for the Tulalip Tribes in Tulalip
28. $1,808,011 for the Upper Skagit Tribe in Sedro Woolley
29. $10,059,999 for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation in Toppenish

Senator Murray has consistently worked to address Washington state’s housing crisis and has secured major federal investments to help families keep a roof over their heads. Throughout the pandemic, Senator Murray—then Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee—played a major role in writing federal COVID-19 relief legislation that secured major support for people facing housing insecurity, championing sizable investments in rental assistance and other programs that collectively resulted in the largest eviction prevention effort in American history. At the beginning of this Congress, Senator Murray called on President Biden to utilize a “whole of government” approach to addressing our nation’s housing needs. In the government funding bills Murray negotiated and passed as Appropriations Chair, Murray secured billions in funding for our nation’s most important affordable housing and homelessness programs including IHBG, as well as millions of dollars in Congressionally Directed Spending for affordable housing projects throughout Washington state.

###