WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) concluded its 2026 National Tribal Housing Summit with the inaugural HUD Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Tribal Communities, $150 million in Indian Housing Block Grant awards and a new interagency agreement aimed at expanding homeownership on tribal trust lands.
During the Summit, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve federal coordination related to homeownership on trust lands.
“It was a privilege to convene tribal leaders from across the country at this year’s Tribal Housing Summit and demonstrate what is possible when federal agencies honor tribal sovereignty and work together to deliver real solutions,” said Secretary Turner. “Under President Trump’s leadership, HUD’s new MOU with the Department of the Interior will cut red tape and open doors to homeownership on tribal trust lands. Together with our Work & Dignity Coalition, these efforts are helping Native families build intergenerational wealth and achieve greater self-sufficiency.”
The inaugural HUD Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Tribal Communities recognized achievements in new housing construction, community development and support for Native youth. Citizen Potawatomi Nation was recognized for constructing 66 single-family duplexes featuring high-performance insulation and heat pumps designed to reduce heating and cooling energy use by 70 percent for low-income Native families preparing for homeownership.
Cook Inlet Housing Authority received the Community Development award for a $51 million neighborhood renewal project in Anchorage that combined HUD funding and tax credits to develop nearly 150 affordable rental homes. Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki Association was recognized for Supporting Native Youth after developing a secure reservation campus for up to 45 Native youth, designed to support family stability and cultural connections.
HUD also announced $150 million in Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Program awards to 31 tribal communities. The funding will support the construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of hundreds of housing units for Native families. The IHBG program is the primary federal funding source for tribal housing and the largest source of Indian housing assistance.
The HUD-BIA agreement establishes an interagency framework to support implementation of the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025, signed into law earlier this year. The agencies will work to accelerate Title Status Report processing and align federal leasing reviews, addressing administrative barriers that can delay private mortgage lending on tribal trust lands.
The 2026 National Tribal Housing Summit also marks three decades of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).
