The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has placed a renewed focus on Native American housing, with a new grant to aid this often-overlooked sector and a new officer dedicated to its needs.
HUD awarded $95 million to 55 communities through the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program. The funds can be allocated for infrastructure, community facilities, housing rehabilitation and economic development to support Native American and Alaskan Native families on tribal reservations and in other related areas. The ICDBG program is a competitive grant that covers housing rehabilitation, land acquisition, roads, water and sewer facilities, and single or multipurpose community buildings.
Separately, Richard J. Monocchio was sworn in as HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing. He previously served in the City of Chicago as buildings commissioner, aviation chief of staff and first deputy housing commissioner, and he also led the Housing Authority of Cook County as executive director. He has also worked on the federal level in HUD during the Clinton Administration and as senior advisor to the late U.S. Rep. George E. Sangmeister.
“As a life-long public servant, it is my sincere pleasure to return to HUD to serve the Office of Public and Indian Housing,” said Monocchio.
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