The Bush administration's decision to withhold $300 million in Indian housing funds affects small tribes and small housing authorities the most, tribal officials said.

Each year, tribes and housing authorities submit Indian housing plans to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. They generally have about two years to spend the money.

But the administration is no longer accepting housing plans as a result of a court decision involving just one tribes. The decision has been criticized by tribal housing leaders and members of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Some tribes have already submitted their plans. The funding freeze affects about half of the $600-million plus housing block grant program.

Get the Story:
HUD freezes release of Indian housing aid (AP 6/30)
pwpwd

Relevant Documents:
Cabrera Letter Suspending Funds | Court Decision in Ft. Peck Case

Hearing Info:
OVERSIGHT HEARING on Native American Housing Programs (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Fort Peck Tribes - http://www.fortpecktribes.org
Office of Public and Indian Housing, HUD - http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih
National American Indian Housing Council - http://naihc.net
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov

Related Stories:
Bush holds back housing money from tribes (6/29)
Jodi Rave: Tribal housing hurt by HUD decision (6/29)
Indian Affairs Committee hearing on housing (6/28)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing (06/26)
Indian home loan program expands to more states (06/20)
Upcoming Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings (06/12)
Indian housing training funds slated for cut (3/2)
Special Interests: Lobbying for Indian housing (3/2)
Program to help urban Indians become homeowners (02/27)
Upcoming Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings (09/12)
Former HUD official Liu drops lobbying effort (09/01)
HUD expands home loan program in Oregon (08/08)
Aloha! Michael Liu leaving HUD for private sector (05/05)
Senators question Bush administration's budget cuts (02/17)
Native veterans question Bush administration budget (02/17)
Official cites 'tight' budget for Indian housing (2/9)
Indian housing funds see no major increase (11/24)
Congress restores Bush's cuts to Indian programs (11/22)
Bush says housing program he's cutting is 'working' (08/12)
Tribes challenge policy affecting federal housing funds (05/04)
Indian housing funds face cuts in Bush budget (04/14)
Tribes tackle budget woes under Bush administration (4/13)
Housing campaign seeks to build 100,000 homes (02/27)
Senate panel shares criticism of Bush budget (02/12)
Tribal leaders pressing Congress on funding (02/11)
Native American Bank offers new mortgage program (01/21)
Indians fight discrimination when renting homes (11/21)
Indian housing funds face more scrutiny (3/4)
Bush budget restricts spending on Indian Country (02/10)
Senate clears new funds for Indian programs (01/24)
Housing scarce for thousands of Indian families (01/22)
Indian housing bill signed into law (11/15)
A busy year for Congress on Indian affairs (10/22)
Senate renews Indian housing law (10/8)
Court rules tribes immune from discrimination law (8/14)
Bush names Liu to Indian housing post (6/22)
Native Corp. to appeal housing denial (6/4)
Alaska Native housing plan rejected (5/29)
Audit: Alaska Native dorm improperly approved (4/17)
HUD Budget: No big benefit for Indian Country (4/12)
Martinez to clean HUD house (2/21)