Over $4 million in federal grants awarded last week to the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority will help provide services to over 500 families on the Flathead Reservation.

The department of Housing and Urban Development awarded almost $21 million in grants to the seven federally recognized Indian reservations through the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program, with $4,033,261 going to the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority (SKHA).

Jason Adams, director of SKHA, said the annual grant makes up 40 percent of the housing authority’s budget, adding that the housing authority must submit a housing plan each year. SKHA offers a variety of programs from emergency housing programs, first-time homebuyers education classes, a transitional living center and low rent assistance. He said the majority of the money is used to operate and maintain over 500 rental units throughout the reservation.

The SKHA’s rental units are rent-adjusted to a tenant’s income. The housing authority cannot charge more than 30 percent of a tenant’s monthly earnings for rent, which means some renters are not paying anything for rent, Adams said. The grant money comes in as a subsidy to offset these costs. Each year SKHA invests 20 to 25 percent of their budget into long-term maintenance of units, such as replacing siding or roofs.

Though $4 million seems like a lot of money, Adams said the amount of grant money SKHA receives has been decreasing while the cost of doing business has been steadily rising. In previous years, more money has meant more funding for new programs, which can in turn yield other opportunities for prospective grants.

This year, there will be no new programs. Adams said SKHA has not yet had to cut programs, but they have had to cut back on staff. He said once an employee leaves or retires, the housing authority removes the position.

The IHBG program is meant to support hardworking families living on reservations or in other Native American communities who don’t have the financial resources to maintain good homes, schools, or other key contributors to economic security.

U.S. Senators Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Max Baucus, D-Mont., announced the grants last week. Tester, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the Senate Banking and Housing Committee, commended the grants.

“Providing more affordable housing in Indian Country will ensure that more Montanans have a safe place to live so they can find work and care for themselves and their families,” Tester said. “This initiative will strengthen communities and help grow Montana’s economy for decades to come.”

Baucus also lauded the grants.

“Housing is a basic building block for jobs, economic growth and education. These investments will go a long way toward empowering Indian communities, providing affordable housing and giving Montana families more opportunities to succeed,” said Baucus.