Friday, March 19, 2021 | 9 a.m.
CARSON CITY — Tribal communities in Nevada will get about $10.1 million for affordable housing through the American Rescue Plan, Democratic Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen said today.
“I’m proud to have supported this legislative package that includes the single largest infusion of dedicated resources into Indian Country in U.S. history — long overdue assistance — to ensure Native communities have the resources to develop, maintain, and operate safe and affordable housing,” Rosen said.
The American Rescue Plan was passed without Republican support and was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11. The $1.9 trillion bill includes $31.2 billion for Indian country.
“This federal funding will support health care, housing and economic recovery efforts across Indian country, and I’ll make sure Nevada’s tribal governments and native communities continue to get the help they need to flourish,” Cortez Masto said.
In Nevada, tribes will get money to develop and operate low-income housing. The funding ranges from $35,007 each for the Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians, the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe and the Winnemucca Indian Colony to about $1.47 million for the Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Tribes in Owyhee.
Other tribes that will receive funding are the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Ely Shoshone Tribe, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes, Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians, Walker River Paiute Tribe, Washoe Tribe, Yerington Paiute Tribe and Yomba Shoshone Tribe.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of homelessness compared to other racial and ethnic groups, with an average of 160 out of 10,000 experiencing homelessness. The national average is 17 out of 10,000 people.
“During the coronavirus pandemic, access to a safe home is vital, and these funds are a historic investment in affordable housing for Native communities across Nevada,” Cortez Masto said.
