Delegates from the Lumbee Tribe attended the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) held in Arlington, Virginia on February 28 through March 2, 2006, to represent the tribe’s interest in housing funding.

The Lumbee Tribe currently receives approximately 14 million annually as a housing recipient.  The NAIHC assist tribes and tribal housing entities in reaching their self-determined goals of providing culturally relevant, decent, safe, sanitary housing for native people in Indian communities.

The main focus of the twelfth annual legislative conference was the re-authorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) that expires in fiscal year 2007.

“I feel it was imperative that a delegation of Lumbee members be here at the table discussing and participating in this process,” states Bosco Locklear, Rehabilitation Manager.  “There is a proposal to cap the funding issued to state recognized tribes.  If this occurs this action would seriously impact the Lumbee tribal membership.”

Also presented at the conference, was the president’s proposed budget to the U S Congress concerning NAHASDA funding and its re-authorization.  President Bush’s current proposal for the 2007 fiscal year is approximately $625 million, whereas the budget for the 2006 fiscal year was $623 million. 

“I was pleased to see that the president’s proposed budget contained an increase, especially considering the cuts in other areas of federal funding, due to the war on terrorism and the relief efforts in Louisiana” said special assistant Tammy Maynor.

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