Federal grants to help homeless Native American veterans

The Spokane Indian Housing Authority will receive more than $245,000 in federal funding to provide housing for homeless Native American veterans on tribal lands, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Friday.

A total of 26 tribal housing organizations, including Spokane, Colville and Yakama housing authorities, were selected to receive funds, HUD said in a news release. In Washington, the grants totaled about $570,000 between the three tribal authorities to provide housing for 60 Native American veterans who are currently homeless or at high risk for homelessness.

The grants are part of a federal supportive housing program that includes rental vouchers from HUD and case management services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since 2008, the program has awarded about 2,400 vouchers to veterans in Washington, but Friday’s announcement marks the first time that support has been available for people living on tribal lands.