He said the electrical system is outdated and the building is inefficient. The Oglala Sioux's emergency manager, Steve Wilson, said tribal officials have been working out of the concrete jail for several years, even though it’s been condemned. Bureau of Indian Affairs plans to tear down once they move out, tribal officials said. Much of their supplies are stored in shipping containers at the old jail that the U.S. Tribes are required to report back to HUD on how the money is being spent.Įmergency management officials on the Pine Ridge reservation were using the grounds outside their new building Tuesday to make COVID kits.
The agency first considered requests that weren't funded under the CARES Act before taking new applications. HUD also raised the maximum amount that could be awarded through American Rescue Plan Act funding by 15% because it was a bigger pot of money and construction costs have soared, Burns said. HUD switched up its approach from awarding grants under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act from releasing it in one batch to doling it out in rounds to give some tribes more time to apply. About 200 tribes apply each year, but only about 80 are funded, HUD spokesman Michael Burns said.Īll of the American Rescue Plan Act money for the grants was designated as imminent threat, making it available on a first-come, first-served basis. HUD typically awards about $70 million annually through its Indian Community Development Block Grant program for competitive grants and $4 million for imminent threat grants. She said budget proposals have included increased funding. Todman acknowledge the grants won't be enough to fulfill all the needs in Indian Country.
And the Nansemond Indian Nation in Virginia will expand and renovate a community center with its nearly $1 million grant. The Round Valley Indian Housing Authority in California will use $1.7 million to renovate homes and develop a food bank. Tribes in Arizona and New Mexico have been awarded grants in all three rounds for housing, sanitation services, internet access and health care facilities, and to help families struggling to pay housing and utility bills during the pandemic.Įlsewhere, the Northern Arapaho Tribal Housing Authority in Wyoming will use its $1 million grant to buy a couple of mobile medical units to aid its COVID-19 response. Tribal leaders plan to offer the new homes as rent to own. About 430 people live in the village that has fewer than 100 houses, she said. The village still needs to secure additional grant funding for water, sewer and electric poles, Keller said. The tribe already built gravel pads for the homes using $1 million in federal virus relief funding. “This is once-in-a-lifetime funding for tribes,” said Hattie Keller, a housing consultant for the tribe. The tribe got word Tuesday it will get more than $1 million for the project. Michael in Alaska faces a housing shortage and wanted to ensure it could start building 26 tiny homes when the weather is good. Tribal officials had expected more grant funding to be released last last year and have been texting, emailing and calling each other routinely for updates.
Tribes have been eagerly awaiting the money to cover cost overruns for existing projects and to start new ones. “This is a fair amount of money.”Īt least one more round of funding is coming with the remaining $71 million, she said. “This is thankfully, historic levels of funding in this particular program, and I know we’re grateful for it, and I know the tribal communities are as well,” said Adrianne Todman, deputy secretary of HUD. The latest infusion - $83 million - will benefit 74 tribes across the country and boost the total amount awarded so far to $209 million spread among 191 tribes. The $3.4 million grant to the Oglala Sioux Tribe is part a third round of “imminent threat funding” from HUD, using money from the American Rescue Plan Act. “They never had enough money to get it built entirely, so we've been doing little grants here and there,” Mesteth said. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Tuesday will make those connections and help emergency responders into their new digs.
A new round of grant funding that the U.S. That's because the new building near a small airport doesn't have water and sewer connected, said Lislie Mesteth, who runs the Oglala Sioux Tribe's solid waste program. (AP) - Emergency management officials on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota have a new building, but they have been operating out of an old jail that's set to be torn down.