As Tribes Across Washington State Work to Address COVID-19 Pandemic, Senator Murray Announces Millions in Tribal Housing Assistance

Senator Murray announced more than $4.2 million in Indian Community Development Block Grants to support housing and economic opportunities for Washington state Tribal communities

New York Times: Tribal Nations Face Most Severe Crisis in Decades– More HERE 

ICYMI: Senator Murray Announces Federal Housing Funding From Coronavirus Relief Bill for Washington State Tribes – MORE HERE

Senator Murray: “As this pandemic continues to take a disproportionate toll on Tribes and other historically-overlooked communities, this assistance couldn’t come more quickly to help those most in need navigate this crisis”

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced more than $4.2 million in federal assistance for Washington state Tribes from the Indian Community Development Block Grants (ICDBG) program. The ICDBG program provides funding to support Tribal housing, employment, and other community projects. Washington state Tribes and Tribal housing authorities receiving funding include the Spokane Tribe, Chehalis Tribe, Colville Housing Authority, Lummi Nation Housing Authority, Muckleshoot Housing Authority, and the Skokomish Tribe.

“As this pandemic continues to take a disproportionate toll on Tribes and other historically-overlooked communities, this assistance couldn’t come more quickly to help those most in need navigate this crisis,” Senator Murray said. “As a partner to Indian Country and a voice for all Washington state Tribes in the Senate, I’m going to keep working to get them the federal support and relief they need in these uncertain times.”

A senior member of the Senate subcommittee responsible for housing appropriations, Senator Murray has consistently fought to strengthen funding for programs like ICDBG to combat the housing crisis in Tribal communities in Washington state and across the country. Senator Murray has also worked to secure much needed relief funding for Tribes to help address the impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic, successfully fighting to include more than $10 billion in funding for Tribes in the CARES Act, including more than $12 million in emergency Tribal housing assistance for Washington state Tribes.

For a full breakdown of the ICDBG awards going to Washington state Tribes, please see below.

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