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Rocky Boy gets federal housing grant

HUD awards $900,000 to Chippewa Cree Tribe

The tribe at Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation is getting more help to improve living conditions on the reservation.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and HUD Rocky Mountain Regional Administrator Rick Garcia announced Wednesday that the Chippewa Cree Tribe was one of two Native American tribes in Montana receiving $900,000 grants to improve or create housing and economic development for low- to moderate-income families.

The other grant, through HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant Program, went to the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority.

“These funds help Native American communities create sustainable and community-driven solutions to the challenges they face,” Donovan said in a release announcing the grants. “They are investments in the future that improve, preserve and expand the supply of decent, affordable housing, as well as expand economic opportunities for some of the most vulnerable fellow citizens.”

“Native villages and tribal organizations are using these funds to meet their most pressing housing and community development priorities,” Garcia added in the release.

The release said the grants are part of $53.6 million HUD will award in 2013 in the program, in which federally recognized Indian tribes, bands, groups or nations, including Alaska Indian, Aleuts and Eskimos, or Alaska Native villages compete for funding. The program was established in 1977.

The recipients use the funding to develop viable communities, including rehabilitating housing, or building new housing or to buy land to support new housing construction.

The program’s funding also can be used to build infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities, and to create suitable living environments. To spur economic development, recipients have used the grants to establish a wide variety of commercial, industrial and agricultural projects. The grants have been used to build community and health centers, or to start businesses to support the community, such as shopping centers, manufacturing plants, restaurants or convenience stores and gas stations.

 
 

Reader Comments(7)

kevin writes:

Open your eyes upset maybe if you paid taxes you would be upset also. This money will help the tribal council make improvements to their house and everone else will be left to starve and live in poverty. Why shouldnt we assume that?? Have they given us a reason not to believe they money will be misused?? Thats what I thought.

Upset writes:

I'm so sure! Right away people start saying money is stolen. It was just barely announced on the news. You people should be ashamed of yourself. Quit assuming. This money will help people that need homes!

peanut writes:

It would be wonderful if it was used for the good of the people but with who's in the council they pockets will just get fatter and their houses will be nicer.

Willy writes:

Give money to this so that YouthBuild can be cut. SAD.

Kevin writes:

Great more tax dollars into the pockets of the councilman of the tribe. This should tell you how carefully our government monitors spending, in case you dont know, the do not monitor it its just tax payer money they dont care. Lets just continue to send the reservation money so they can steal it sounds great!!

LOL writes:

The Money for housing will be stolen just like the money for drinking water was stolen!! What kind of people steal money that is meant to improve the living conditions of their own people? Disgusting!!

outtahere writes:

ooohhh, that's kind od scary, considering the thing our tribal administration call the BLACK-HOLE,, all of our money goes to the hands of these crooked CROOKS! and they put it in there pockets...BUT... thank you HUD I hope it does help some of our older people here on the Rez.. and as this investigation on... and good luck to our FBI friends. signed OUTTAHERE

 
 
 
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