Post by Okwes on Jul 2, 2006 17:09:44 GMT -5
Senators get an earful over housing controversy
Millions in grants withheld due to court case
Sam Lewin 6/29/2006
Senators on both sides of the aisle appeared sympathetic to concerns from Indian leaders that withholding millions in housing grants could cause major crises.
The Department of Housing and Urban Administration-commonly known by the acronym HUD-has imposed a freeze due to a lawsuit over how the agency awards housing block grants.
The case began when HUD, believing they paid out too much to the housing authority of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes in Montana, sought to have the money returned. The controversy centered on the formula HUD uses to determine how much each tribe gets in housing grants.
The Fort Peck balked and sued and the case is now tied up in court. HUD officials say because of the legal limbo, they must suspend the program.
“…Until such a stay is granted, the Department is unable to process any further FY 2006” housing grants, HUD official Orlando Cabrera wrote in a letter to tribal leaders dated June 9.
The letter generated fear, officials told a hearing of the US Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
“Most tribal and tribally designated housing entity recipients are depending on such funding to continue operating and providing service to their low-income members, and such disruption of funding could lead to some completely shutting down,” Marty Shuravloff, chairman of the National American Indian Housing Council and executive director of the Kodiak Island Housing Authority in Alaska, told the committee.
James Steele, the chairman of Montana’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai said the court case could extend the crisis if “the appeal goes into the next fiscal year.” The money contained in the suspended housing grants totals about $300-million.
Also appearing before the committee, Cabrera acknowledged that the “implications of this are potentially far-reaching.”
Indian affairs committee members agreed the status quo is unacceptable.
Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, chairman of the committee, said Congress could consider legislation to solve the problem and force the release of the housing grants. Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, the vice-chair of the committee, said the situation is “almost unforgivable.”
Indian Country housing has long been a point of concern. The Senate hearing came on the same day as the Massachusetts-based Mashpee Wampanoag tribe said their housing situation has become so dire that they are forming their own housing authority. The tribe, which was granted preliminary federal recognition in March and awaits a final determination next year, has many elders living in old, overcrowded homes and fearing foreclosure, said tribal chairman Glenn Marshall.
“Taking care of our tribe’s housing needs is a top priority,” he said. “Being able to build homes, produce rentals, and develop recreation programs within our housing developments are all goals.”
You can reach Sam Lewin at sam@okit.com
Millions in grants withheld due to court case
Sam Lewin 6/29/2006
Senators on both sides of the aisle appeared sympathetic to concerns from Indian leaders that withholding millions in housing grants could cause major crises.
The Department of Housing and Urban Administration-commonly known by the acronym HUD-has imposed a freeze due to a lawsuit over how the agency awards housing block grants.
The case began when HUD, believing they paid out too much to the housing authority of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes in Montana, sought to have the money returned. The controversy centered on the formula HUD uses to determine how much each tribe gets in housing grants.
The Fort Peck balked and sued and the case is now tied up in court. HUD officials say because of the legal limbo, they must suspend the program.
“…Until such a stay is granted, the Department is unable to process any further FY 2006” housing grants, HUD official Orlando Cabrera wrote in a letter to tribal leaders dated June 9.
The letter generated fear, officials told a hearing of the US Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
“Most tribal and tribally designated housing entity recipients are depending on such funding to continue operating and providing service to their low-income members, and such disruption of funding could lead to some completely shutting down,” Marty Shuravloff, chairman of the National American Indian Housing Council and executive director of the Kodiak Island Housing Authority in Alaska, told the committee.
James Steele, the chairman of Montana’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai said the court case could extend the crisis if “the appeal goes into the next fiscal year.” The money contained in the suspended housing grants totals about $300-million.
Also appearing before the committee, Cabrera acknowledged that the “implications of this are potentially far-reaching.”
Indian affairs committee members agreed the status quo is unacceptable.
Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, chairman of the committee, said Congress could consider legislation to solve the problem and force the release of the housing grants. Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, the vice-chair of the committee, said the situation is “almost unforgivable.”
Indian Country housing has long been a point of concern. The Senate hearing came on the same day as the Massachusetts-based Mashpee Wampanoag tribe said their housing situation has become so dire that they are forming their own housing authority. The tribe, which was granted preliminary federal recognition in March and awaits a final determination next year, has many elders living in old, overcrowded homes and fearing foreclosure, said tribal chairman Glenn Marshall.
“Taking care of our tribe’s housing needs is a top priority,” he said. “Being able to build homes, produce rentals, and develop recreation programs within our housing developments are all goals.”
You can reach Sam Lewin at sam@okit.com