Focus on the People and Places Most Impacted by Housing Instability

Support Tribal Nations and Indigenous Communities

Indigenous communities and Tribal Nations have the expertise and commitment to meet their housing needs; however, oppression, historical trauma, discrimination and disinvestment have held them back. Compared with non-Latino whites in Minnesota, Native Americans are two times less likely to be homeowners, four times more likely to be in poverty, and 28 times more likely to experience homelessness. Recognizing the sovereignty of Tribal Nations, we must do better to meet the housing needs of Native Americans living on Tribal lands and throughout Minnesota.

Key Metrics

Native American disparities in housing cost burden, renting, poverty and homelessness (coming soon)

Number of Minnesota Housing programs for which Tribal Nations are eligible participants (coming soon)

Actions

Implement our Tribal Consultation Policy and Create an Implementation Plan

Building off the Agency’s Tribal Consultation Policy, create and implement a plan that focuses on engagement, trust, respect, support, action and outcomes
Work with Tribal Nations to evaluate all previous Agency decisions that impact the Tribes and change them when needed

Address the Housing Needs in Indigenous Communities

Understand the housing needs of Indigenous communities throughout the state
Work with and support Indigenous communities in addressing their housing needs

Increase Tribal Access to Program Resources

Allocate more resources directly to Tribes, including
- Advocating that state funds be directly allocated to the Tribes, and
- Making Tribes eligible participants in all our programs
Provide Tribes sufficient resources to administer these programs
For other programs, contract with administrators with a history of effectively partnering with Tribes and serving Indigenous communities

Support Tribes in Building their Program Capacity

Tailor capacity building efforts to the needs of Tribes

Increase the Tribal Expertise of Minnesota Housing Staff

Increase staff participation in Tribal-State Relations training
Have staff who effectively work with Tribes serve as mentors for other staff
Regularly engage with and visit Tribal Nations and communities

Expand the strategic plan table of contents to navigate the plan's strategic objectives and their dashboard metrics.

Contact

John Patterson, Director of Planning, Research and Evaluation

Director of Planning, Research and Evaluation

john.patterson@state.mn.us

651.296.0763