Mescalero among eight tribes in New Mexico receiving federal housing grants

The Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department is among eight tribal entities to receive federal housing grants out of the more than $31.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mescalero is in line for $4 million. The grants aim to improve Native American access to affordable housing, according to a release from U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) and other members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.

The eight tribes received the grants from HUD’s Indian Block Grant Competitive Program. The grants were funded under Congress’s expansion of the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act last year.

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The program is designed to streamline the grant funding process for federally-recognized tribes to facilitate tribal autonomy when directing resources, the information stated. The funding will be used for tribe-administered affordable housing development, maintenance and operation.

“There is a tremendous lack of housing on the Reservation," said Mescalero President Gabe Aguilar. "The Tribe is very excited to receive this funding – it will go far to address the needs of our community.”

The Mescalero Apache Tribe has a population of 5,204, of which 3,450 reside on the reservation, according the tribal enrollment records. The tribal Housing Department has a current housing wait list of 152.

The Tribe submitted a competitive grant application to HUD  through the Indian Housing Block Grant .The $4 million award will assist with the purchase 26 new modular homes. The homes will be placed onto existing residential lots at the Windy Point II subdivision located on the reservation, Aguilar said. Other federal monies will be used to complete the project.

“Safe, well-built housing and infrastructure are the building blocks for strong, healthy communities, and this major funding will help improve housing for Native communities across New Mexico,” said Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“It’s clear that NAHASDA is delivering critical resources to Native communities. That’s why I am working across the aisle to reauthorize NAHASDA, which expired as a mandatory funding mechanism in 2013. I am committed to ensuring that the federal government upholds its trust responsibility to Tribes. We must provide Native communities across the country with reliable funding they can use to plan their future.”

The Mescalero Tribe lives on a massive reservation in Otero County, but the tribal lands adjoin the village of Ruidoso in Lincoln County. The reservation encompasses miles of U.S. 70 as it leaves Tularosa and Bent and climbs into the Sacramento Mountains toward Ruidoso.

The eight entities and grants are:

• The Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department, $4 million
• The Nambé Pueblo Housing Entity, $3 million
• The Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority, $5 million
• The San Felipe Pueblo Housing Authority, $5 million
• The Tamaya Housing, Inc. in Santa Ana Pueblo more than $4.8 million
• The Jicarilla Apache Housing Authority, $5 million
• The Santo Domingo Tribal Housing Authority, more than $4.5 million
• The Zuni Housing Authority, $5 million

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Dianne Stallings can be contacted at dstallings@ruidosonews.com.