Area tribes awarded $7.5 million for housing

Inland Northwest tribes will receive over $7.5 million in federal housing grants to benefit low-income families living on Indian reservations.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the awards Tuesday. Nationally, $660 million in Indian Housing Block Grant funds are being distributed to more than 570 tribes and villages in 35 states.

The awards include:

♦$3.99 million for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

♦$2.45 million for the Spokane Tribe.

♦$123,000 for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.

♦$881,000 for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

♦$82,000 for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.

The grant program is the largest source of affordable housing assistance to address overcrowding and substandard housing in Indian Country.