Informative and interesting article in The New York Times on housing development on Winnebago Indian Reservation (Nebraska).
In mid-September the National American Indian Housing Council released a report on the health risks that overcrowded housing on reservations poses to children, including infectious diseases and breathing problems from tobacco smoke. A report last year by the federal Commission on Civil Rights cited an immediate need for 200,000 housing units for Indian families.
In Winnebago about one-third of households are overcrowded, including the home of David and Robin Redhorn. They live in town with their three children in a house they share with Mrs. Redhorn’s sister, her husband and their child. “There’s about eight of us,” Mr. Redhorn said. “It’s kind of crowded, but we’re managing.”
In October the Redhorn family will become the second to move to Ho-Chunk Village. With guidance from a 40-hour home buyer course offered by the housing authority, Mr. Redhorn, who works at the Heritage Food Store in town, paid off overdue debts to improve his credit record, which qualified him for financial assistance.
All Winnebago families are eligible for $15,000 in down payment assistance from Ho-Chunk Inc.’s nonprofit arm for houses on the reservation if they complete the course. Families earning $45,200 or less may qualify for an additional $5,000 from the housing authority.
“We’ll have a three-bedroom house, a full basement with a two-car garage, central air and central heat,” Mr. Redhorn said. “And a fireplace so we can have a real Christmas. I’m kind of fired up about this.”