Peace Garden News

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner have announced that two North Dakota tribes will receive a total of $608,450 in Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) grants. The Turtle Mountain Housing Authority is set to receive $348,194, while the Standing Rock Housing Authority will get $260,256.

The funding is aimed at supporting veteran housing programs for Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Tribal HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance and administrative fees from the Department of Housing and Urban Development with case management, clinical, and supportive services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Senator Cramer emphasized the high rate of military service among Native Americans. “Across North Dakota and across the entire nation, Native Americans serve at the highest rates of any demographic group in our country’s armed forces and their willingness to serve frankly deserves the highest thanks from a grateful nation,” he said. “These grants from the Tribal HUD-VASH program are an excellent tool to combat tribal veteran homelessness, and it’s really an honor to announce it with Secretary Turner today.”

Secretary Turner also highlighted the impact of the program. “It is an honor to see how the Tribal HUD-VASH program is creating economic opportunity and pathways to self-sufficiency for Native American veterans,” he said. “Today’s funding announcement will expand the impact of this program to more Native American veterans across the country.”

A statement from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe expressed appreciation for federal support: "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is deeply grateful for Secretary Turner's and Senator Cramer's support for affordable housing for our at risk and homeless Veterans. Our Tribal Veterans served to protect us and it is up to us to provide for them. The grant funding that our Housing Authority receives through the Tribal HUD-VASH program is a critical part of providing the housing our Veterans need and deserve. Providing housing on our Standing Rock Reservation is one of our highest priorities. The United States has an ongoing commitment under our 1851 and 1868 Treaties to provide housing on our Reservation. Our Tribal Leadership and Tribal Housing Authority look forward to engaging with Secretary Turner to find innovative solutions that will continue to expand our housing resources for our Veterans and all tribal members."

Although Secretary Turner was scheduled to be present in North Dakota for this announcement at Standing Rock, he was unable to attend.

Native Americans have a military service rate five times higher than the national average, making them the ethnic group with the highest per-capita service in U.S. armed forces. Senator Cramer has been a consistent advocate for robust annual appropriations for HUD-VASH funding.