Eastern Washington tribes receive $6.5 million in federal housing funds

Three tribes in Eastern Washington received $6.5 million in federal funds to build affordable housing projects.

“This is great news for tribal communities in Eastern Washington as they continue striving to provide quality, affordable housing for their members,” Sen. Patty Murray, who is on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a news release.

The Colville Confederated Tribes received $4 million, while the Spokane tribe received $2.4 million in block grant funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Kalispel tribe received nearly $100,000.

“The funds received through the Indian Housing Block Grant will be utilized to make necessary repairs and to maintain tribally owned rental properties, assist qualifying low-income applicants with move in costs like first and last month’s rent and damage deposits, and as part of a down payment assistance program for first time home buyers,” a statement from the Kalispel tribe said.