Tribal Nations Housing Development Assistance Program Launch
https://www.michigan.gov/tribal-housing
[TRANSCRIPT] In Michigan, we're transforming the way we build housing and work with our partners. We believe that everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home in their community of their choice. We're always looking for innovative ways to make sure that our investments are having the biggest impact possible. And that's why we're so excited to announce a new government to government partnership between the state of Michigan and tribal governments.
Today, we are celebrating the Tribal Nations Housing Development Assistance Program, which will make a real impact for our tribes around the state. We are grateful to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis for the generous support and to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority for their continued leadership and partnership.
At MSHDA, we aim to support new housing locally and regionally and to connect our partners with the resources they need to be successful. That's why we're excited to announce the Tribal Nations Housing Development Assistance Program. We have partnered with the National American Indian Housing Council to create a tribal toolkit and convene the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan to share how it can help expand their existing affordable housing capacity. And that's just the beginning. This program also offers tailored trainings one on one technical assistance to help tribal nations build housing and support needed upgrades to their older homes. And we're so grateful to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis for supporting this new program with up to $3 million, the largest voluntary grant they've ever made to a single organization. With the bank's partnership, this program will have a flexible funding source to remove barriers to participation, cover critical pre-development expenses, respond to additional capacity needs, and bridge project financing gaps.
For nearly 100 years, the focus of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis has been to partner with our Michigan and Indiana members in support of affordable housing and community development initiatives. Part of that focus includes underserved and vulnerable communities and populations, and over the years, we have developed a variety of successful solutions, but never one that directly address the unique needs of tribal communities in Michigan. That is, until today.
That's why I'm very proud to announce the launch of our Tribal Nations Housing Development Assistance Program in coordination with Governor Whitmer and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. This program seeks to be the catalyst for meaningful change in underserved communities served by our Michigan member institutions.
We're excited to join forces for two reasons. One, it allows us to expand our financial support network across the state. And two, because we know the customized, flexible nature of the program will align directly with what Michigan sovereign tribes need.
MSHDA’s new Tribal Nations Housing Development Assistance Program will support the production and preservation of housing by working hand-in-hand with sovereign tribal nation partners all over the state. Since I took office, we have worked with our tribal partners to invest in high speed Internet, economic opportunity and, of course, housing. Under the leadership of MSHDA Executive Director Amy Hovey and thanks to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’ $3 million investment, we will build more housing tailored to the unique housing needs of each tribal nation. Let's get it done.
Every family deserves a place to call home, and we're confident that this program's toolkit training and one on one engagement will take concepts from vision to reality. So I want to thank you, to the governor's office and to MSHDA, for the partnership in this important program. We really look forward to seeing the countless housing success stories in the years to come.
We need all hands on deck to solve the housing crisis for families in Michigan. Working together through the Tribal Nation Housing Development Assistance Program. We will make sure sovereign tribal nations have the tailored support they need to create housing opportunities for their communities.
We know everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. With this new program, the tribal nations will get closer to that reality.