Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026

Plain-English Summary

This bill would renew and continue a federal program called the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), which was originally passed in 1996. The program provides federal funding to Native American tribes and tribal housing organizations so they can build, repair, and manage affordable housing on tribal lands. Without reauthorization, the program's authority to operate and distribute funds could expire, potentially disrupting housing services for tribal communities.

The bill primarily affects Native American tribes, Alaska Native villages, and the people who live in tribal communities across the United States. Under this program, tribes receive block grants — meaning they get a set amount of funding they can use flexibly based on their own housing priorities, rather than following a strict federal formula for how every dollar must be spent. This approach was designed to give tribes more control over their own housing decisions, reflecting the principle of tribal self-determination.

By reauthorizing this law, Congress would ensure that federal housing assistance continues flowing to tribal communities, many of which face significant housing shortages and challenges with aging or overcrowded housing. The bill keeps the existing framework in place so tribes and tribal housing programs can continue planning and operating without interruption. The specific funding levels and any program changes would be determined through the full legislative process as the bill moves through Congress.