June is National Homeownership Month—a time not only to recognize the importance of homeownership, but also to spotlight its critical role in community and economic development across Indian Country.
At USET’s Office of Economic Development, one of our strategic goals in our Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CECDS) is to enhance the quality of life and place in Tribal communities. This includes not just preserving Native culture and traditions, but also investing in infrastructure, planning, and economic resiliency. Housing—and more specifically, homeownership—is an essential piece of that puzzle.
Homeownership: A Core Element of Economic Development
Housing is often viewed narrowly as a social service or basic need but tt must also be recognized as a fundamental building block of a community’s economic development. When families own homes, they build wealth, create stability, and increase their stake in the community.
Homeownership supports a stronger workforce, reduces people moving away from communities, and increases local spending. In turn, this strengthens the entire community, paving the way for new businesses, jobs, and services. As the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) emphasizes, safe and affordable housing helps Native families thrive and supports Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
Housing Sparks Broader Community and Business Development
When a Tribal Nation invests in housing, it also creates ripple effects that fuel local economies. New housing construction means contracts for local builders, demand for building materials, and job creation. Well-planned housing developments require infrastructure—roads, water systems, utilities—that benefit the entire community and attracts further investment.
Moreover, neighborhoods built with thoughtful planning can become the foundation for small business development. As the Tribal Leaders Handbook on Homeownership (by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis) explains, housing developments often open up new opportunities for entrepreneurship, such as local markets, childcare centers, or home-based businesses that serve growing populations.
Federal Resources to Support Tribal Housing and Development
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a range of resources that can help Tribes use housing as a tool for economic development. These include the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG), the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, and the Housing Improvement Program (HIP). These tools are essential for increasing Tribal capacity to develop housing and plan for long-term community growth.
A Path Forward
As we celebrate National Homeownership Month, we encourage Tribal leaders, planners, and economic developers to embrace housing as more than a necessity—it’s a driver of prosperity.
Investing in homeownership and community housing development is investing in the future of Indian Country. It enhances quality of life, sustains cultural identity, and unlocks business development opportunities that build stronger, more self-sufficient Tribal Nations.
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