Mr. MORRIS THOMPSON,

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS,
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE,

Washington, D.C., October 2, 1974.

Commissioner, Bureau of Indian Affairs,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. THOMPSON: The Congressional Research Service has been asked by a Congressional office to assist in obtaining information concerning Indian housing in the United States.

Pursuant to this request, it is important that we receive a detailed breakdown and summary of: (1) past and present Indian housing programs (including programs providing related services to housing such as roads, sanitation facilities, water, etc.) sponsored by federal agencies; (2) the total funds expended on each of those programs; and, (3) the number, location and type of units or related services constructed, renovated and/or provided under these programs.

It is important that these figures span as long a time frame as possible depending upon how long a particular program was or has been in existence.

We will appreciate any assistance you can provide. Kindly address your reply to:

Mr. Richard S. Jones

Government Division.

Congressional Research Service

Library of Congress

Washington, D.C. 10540

Sincerely,

LESTER S. JAYSON, Director.

[STAFF NOTE: Identical letters containing the same text were also mailed to HUD, IHS & FmHA]

Commissioner Thompson has asked us to thank you and reply
to your recent inquiry concerning Indian housing in the
United States. We have developed the following information:
The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Housing Improvement Program
(HIP) provides assistance to needy Indians who are unable
to obtain housing assistance from any other source. It
involves principally the repair or enlargement of existing
housing and the construction of new homes in isolated areas.
Another facet of the program provides financial assistance
to qualified Indian families in making down payments for
the purchase of new houses. Such grants may only be made
in the case of families who would not otherwise have the
required income to qualify for federally-insured or
guaranteed loans.

Under the HIP priorities for the selection of families are
established by the tribes or tribal housing entities on the
basis of need and funds available. It is one of the most
popular programs among the Indian people as it combines
the elements of individual choice, simplicity, speed and
self-help. The HIP assisted in the repair of approximately
23,800 and built approximately 3,500 new homes during fiscal
years 1968 through 1974.

The authority is provided by the Snyder Act, November 2,
1921, 42 Stat. 208, P.L. 67-85, 25 U.S.c. 13.

The following is a fiscal year breakdown of actual appropria-
tions and number of repairs and new housing starts for
which accurate records could be obtained:

The HIP provides for the repair of many units either to make them standard or to make them more livable until the families can obtain standard housing through other means. Many of the repair projects listed above did not serve to make the dwelling standard. Vital repairs were made to many of the houses in an attempt to make them more sanitary and more comfortable places to stay until those families could have opportunities to obtain standard housing.

Annual HIP appropriations are distributed among all 12 BIA Area offices according to the tribal needs and relative priorities for housing repair services to Indian homes located within their jurisdiction. We have enclosed for your reference copies of the consolidated annual area housing inventories for FY 1968 through FY 1974.

We are also providing you a copy of the Criteria and Administration of the HIP which includes an explanation of "standard housing". This Criteria has been used since the program became operational, however, for the past 30 days new "proposed rules" for the implementation of the HIP have been published in the Federal Register. (A copy of this notice is also enclosed for your information)

If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to call on us.

HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

CRITERIA AND ADMINISTRATION

Introduction.

The housing policy of the Bureau of Indian Affairs is in line with the Declaration of National Housing Policy set out in the Housing Act of 1949, that is, the Bureau's policy is that every Indian should have (or should have the opportunity to obtain) decent, safe, and sanitary housing in a suitable environment. To the extent that Indian families lack sufficicat income and assets to enable them to achieve such housing, the primary sources of assistance in obtaining such housing are the Federal housing programs which are designed to meet needs of low income families such as the conventional low-rent, mutual-help and Turnkey III housing programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; the direct and insured loan programs of the Farmers Home Administration; and the below market interest rate loan, rent supplement programs and the home ownership and rental housing programs for lower income families of the Federal Housing

Administration.

The primary purpose of the Bureau's Housing Assistance activity is to assist Indian communities and families to participate in Federal housing programs (in cooperation with the Bureau's Credit staff where appropriate) and to provide for the planning and implementation of the Housing Improvement Program.

The Housing Improvement Program is intended to:

I. Provide repairs, renovations, and enlargements to improve existing substandard housing (see "Housing Standards" below) to make it more livable and less hazardous to live in until the families have the opportunity to obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing;

II.

Provide repairs, renovations, and enlargements to existing structurally sound but substandard or deteriorating housing which can economically be placed or maintained in decent, safe, and sanitary conditions by the performance of such work;