On behalf of our clients, Travois continues to follow progress of the quantitative housing needs assessment being conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The study is important because it will provide a critical mechanism to communicate the ongoing need in Indian Country for quality housing, helping to ensure that adequate resources are available to meet this need in the future.
With conclusions to be drawn through this national level assessment, we are hopeful the NAHASDA allocation as a whole will increase thereby benefitting all tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) across the country. The needs assessment will not provide statistically valid results at the tribal, state or regional level. Instead, it will enable Congress to understand the current need more broadly at a national level.
The onsite household survey portion of the study — being coordinated by HUD in collaboration with the University of Chicago — is underway in seven of the 40 tribal areas that are part of the sample. The telephone component of the data collection process is on track to begin this month. Thirty metropolitan areas have been determined for the urban component of the study, which will include 25 telephone interviews and five on-site case studies. The final study is scheduled to be complete by late 2014.
For more information on this important undertaking, please visit the dedicated Assessment of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs webpage.