Pokagon Band celebrates influx of $2.3 million in federal housing funds

Tuesday, July 3, 2018  

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians celebrated National Homeownership Month with a nearly $2.3 million grant in federal housing funds.

The money came from the Indian Housing Block Grant Program (IHBG) at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It will be used to build new homes for Pokagon citizens in Michigan.

“We are grateful to receive this grant of over $2 million,” Chairman John P. Warren said in a press release distributed by HUD. “This money will help us meet increasing demand for good, safe, affordable housing and community development for our citizens.”

Vice Chair of the Pokagan Band of Potawatomi Bob Moody Jr. opens the #homeownershipmonth event with a beautiful invocation reminding us that “it doesn’t matter what shell we come in, we all must come together and help our communities.” #FindYourPlace pic.twitter.com/admgDW21IF

— HUD Midwest (@HUDMidwest) June 27, 2018

According to HUD data, Indian Country will see more than $674 million from IHBG in fiscal year 2018. The amount reflects an increase that Congress provided through the recent #Ominbus spending bill.

Unless lawmakers take action again, Indian Country's grant amount will fall to $599 million, according to fiscal year 2019 estimates released last month. The Trump administration has not requested an increase in funds for the program.

The check presented to the Pokagon Band last week was for $2,298,779, the exact amount in the fiscal year 2018 "Needs and Allocation" spreadsheet [XLS format]. The tribe plans to build 10 homes with the funds, The St. Joseph Herald Palladium reported.

But that amount only covers between 35 and 40 percent of the tribe’s housing needs, Chairman Warren told Leader Publications.

Additional data about IHBG, can be found at hud.gov.

Read More on the Story:
Pokagon Band receives $2.3 million (Leader Publications July 3, 2018)
Feds deliver for Pokagon housing (The St. Joseph Herald Palladium June 28, 2018)
Pokagon Band receives $2 million for home development (WNDU June 27, 2018)
Indian Housing Block Grant awards Pokagon Band of Potawatomi with $2.3 million (WSBT June 27, 2018)