Big Lagoon Rancheria, Trinidad Rancheria and Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria among 22 Tribes to receive $20 million for housing projects

Today, on California Native American Day, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) and the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) Governor Gavin Newsom announced $20 million in grants to 22 Native American Tribes in California to support projects aimed at addressing housing insecurity and preventing and ending homelessness in their communities. 

The grants, administered by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH), provide flexible funding to support priority housing and homelessness projects identified by each tribe. All aspects of this program were developed in accordance with Governor Newsom’s executive order N-15-19, which requires that programs and policies for Tribes include meaningful engagement and consultation. The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) and Cal ICH engaged in meaningful consultation that included tribal outreach and four listening sessions. 

“Native American communities face pressing and unique housing and homelessness challenges which require a thoughtful government-to-government approach, which is why we worked closely with Tribes in designing this program,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez, who co-chairs Cal ICH. “These significant financial resources will support 22 California Tribes, of all sizes, to make investments to prevent and end homelessness and build safe, affordable housing.” 

“Native Americans in California experience some the deepest disparities of homelessness, and California Tribes tend to have less resources and more barriers than local jurisdictions do in their efforts to address homelessness.”, said Cal ICH Executive Officer Meghan Marshall. “Cal ICH thanks all the Tribal leaders who participated in our extensive stakeholder engagement that allows Tribal HHAP to serve as a model to the importance of listening to communities.” 

Tribal grantees span the state from San Diego County in the South to Mono County in the East to Siskiyou County in the North, and represent Tribes of different sizes and capacities, including smaller and more rural and remote tribes that often experience additional barriers. 

The largest Tribal HHAP grant is being awarded to the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, which is being awarded $3.2 million to support the development of new homes and a community center in Sonoma County. 

The Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation is being awarded $3.1 million to fund a new community center that will provide services designed to resolve and prevent homelessness among Native Americans in Colusa, Glenn, and Yolo counties. 

This is the second round of Tribal HHAP grants. In 2022, $20 million in grants were awarded to 16 tribes. Eight of those tribes requested and received grants in this round of funding. 

Cal ICH staff will continue to listen to and support California Tribes as they deploy these resources. 

The Tribal HHAP program is part of California’s commitment to ensuring everyone has a safe and stable place to call home. The Newsom Administration has committed more than $30 billion to address housing and homelessness since taking office, with $3.5 billion for homelessness in the 2023 state budget alone. 

List of 2023 Tribal HHAP grantees: 

• The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians is receiving $3.2 million to support the development of new homes and community center in Sonoma County.* 

• The Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation is receiving $3.1 million to fund a new community center to serve Native Americans in Colusa, Glenn, and Yolo counties. 

• The Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria in Mendocino County will receive $2.5 million to support the purchase of land and develop infrastructure for new home construction.* 

• The Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians in Mendocino County will receive $1.8 million to help build a wellness center. 

• The Big Lagoon Rancheria in Humboldt County will receive $1.5 million to develop a program and facilities to support transitional-aged youth. 

• The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians in San Diego County will receive $1.3 million to support the development of affordable housing.* 

• The Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California in Tuolumne County will receive $900,000 to purchase a house for unsheltered youth and young adults.* 

• The Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians in Mendocino County will receive $560,000 to support their homelessness programs. 

• The Elem Indian Colony Pomo Indians of Sulphur Bank Rancheria in Lake County will receive $553,000 to support their housing and homeless efforts. 

• The Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria in Humboldt County will receive $530,000 to support their affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs. 

• The Bridgeport Indian Colony in Mono County will receive $500,000 to support their housing and youth programs. 

• The Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians in Riverside County will receive $500,000 to support their case management and housing programs. 

• The Karuk Tribe in Siskiyou and Humboldt Counties will receive $370,000 to support their shelter and homelessness initiatives. 

• The Susanville Indian Rancheria in Lassen County will receive $300,000 to support homelessness programs aimed at Tribal youth. 

• The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria in Humboldt County will receive $300,000 to support their housing and homelessness programs.* 

• The Pala Band of Mission Indians in San Diego County will receive $300,000 to support their efforts to prevent homelessness.* 

• The La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians in San Diego County will receive $300,000 to support youth programs. 

• The Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation in Del Norte County will receive $300,000 to support their housing programs.* 

• The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians in Madera County will receive $300,000 to support their housing and homelessness programs

• The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria in Lake County will receive $300,000 to support their housing programs. 

• The Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria in Sonoma County will receive $300,000 to support housing programs.* 

• The Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians will receive $300,000 to support housing for youth and elders in Lake County.