Housing on the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Photo from Facebook

The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $12.4 million in grants to address mold in tribal communities.

A total of 18 tribes in 13 states received money from the Indian Community Development Block Grant program. HUD said the awards were the largest amount to date for mold removal and prevention.

“Every family in America deserves a safe and healthy place to call home,” Secretary Julián Castro said in a press release. “These mold remediation grants demonstrate HUD’s commitment to partnering with Native American communities to improve tribal housing and create healthy communities where families can thrive.”

One of the recipients is the Blackfeet Nation of Montana. Tribal members sued HUD for failing to treat mold in homes that were build with federal funds but they weren't able to pursue their breach of trust claims against the government in court.

The Blackfeet Housing Authority will receive $800,000 to treat 16 homes, according to HUD. That's a small fraction of the 200-plus homes that need treatment, an official said.

The problem that we have is that you’re trying to correct problems from 30 years ago,” housing director Chancy Kittson told The Great Falls Tribune. “There have been ongoing concerns and issues that these homes are unsafe."

According to a 2007 study from the University of Montana, 75 percent of homes tested on the Blackfeet Nation were contaminated by a high level of toxins. Most of the toxins came from black mold, which can lead to cancer, asthma, kidney failure, respiratory problems and other ailments.

The study also found that 71 percent of residents reported mold-related symptoms. In addition, 37 percent of the children were suffering from asthma.

The full list of grantees follows:

Alaska
Cook Inlet Tribal Council - $800,000
Craig Tribal Association - $553,150
Yakutat Tlingit Tribe - $300,000

Arizona
Tohono O'odham Ki:Ki Association - $800,000
Pascua Yaqui Tribe - $800,000

California
Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe - $800,000

Maine
Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians - $605,000

Michigan
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community - $800,000

Minnesota
White Earth Reservation Housing Authority - $600,000

Montana
Blackfeet Housing Authority - $800,000

New Mexico
Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority - $798,787
San Felipe Pueblo Housing Authority - $397,378

North Dakota
Spirit Lake Housing Corporation - $800,000

Oklahoma
Tonkawa Tribe - $658,858

South Dakota
Oglala Sioux (Lakota) Housing Authority - $800,000
Yankton Sioux Tribal Housing Authority - $800,000

Washington
Colville Indian Housing Authority - $486,827

Wisconsin
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa - $800,000

Get the Story:
Blackfeet get $800K to clear mold from public housing (The Great Falls Tribune 9/22)
Federal Grant to Help Get Mold Out of Tribal Housing (Arizona Public Media 9/21)
KBIC awarded $800K to address mold (UPMatters 9/21)
Federal grants target mold in tribal housing (APRN 9/21)
Alaska gets federal funding to address mold in homes (KTVA 9/21)
Alaska Tribes receive federal money to combat mold in homes (KTUU 9/21)

Related Stories:
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Supreme Court delivers more bad news to tribes (04/07)
Appeals court changes mind in Blackfeet housing case (8/25)
Blackfeet Nation seeks housing case rehearing (5/21)
Blackfeet Nation plans housing case rehearing (4/23)
Attorney hails ruling in Blackfeet housing case (3/28)
Court allows suit against tribe - not HUD - for faulty homes (3/20)
Letter: Blackfeet families living in faulty homes (2/29)
Blackfeet homes still infested with dangerous mold (12/17)
Class action housing lawsuit draws tribal interest (2/16)
Blackfeet housing authority seeks rehearing of case (8/29)
Blackfeet homeowners to discuss mold case (07/28)
Court opens Blackfeet housing authority to lawsuit (7/24)
Reservation homes threatened by dangerous mold (05/16)
Navajo Nation homes contaminated with mold (03/02)
Official cites 'tight' budget for Indian housing (2/9)
Reservation homes plagued by mold problems (12/03)
Indian housing funds see no major increase (11/24)
Congress restores Bush's cuts to Indian programs (11/22)
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