2 tribes to receive U.S. housing funds

Two Utah American Indian tribes will receive nearly $2 million in federal assistance for affordable housing, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson said this week.

HUD awarded about $1.74 million to the Utah Piute Housing Authority and $219,000 to the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation Housing Authority.

"This money helps Native American communities do the critical work of providing affordable housing and helping our most vulnerable neighbors," Jackson said in a statement.

The funds are a part of HUD's Indian Housing Block Grant Program, which provides funds for affordable housing projects such as housing developments, modernization, crime prevention and technical assistance.

Kelly Jorgensen, operations specialist at HUD, said the entitlement grants are given out annually to meet each tribe's needs, based on a housing plan.