Navajo Housing Authority Submits 2025 Indian Housing Plan to HUD: $97 Million in New Housing Projects Planned, $150 Million in Total Housing Expenditures Anticipated

WINDOW ROCK—Navajo Housing Authority announced August 13 that the 2025 Indian Housing Plan (IHP) was submitted ahead of schedule to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The plan outlines $97.2 million in new housing and projects more than $125 million in total housing expenditures, including project funding carried over from previous years.

For FY 2024, NHA spent $45 million on housing projects. In FY 2023, $31 million was spent on housing. Spending $125 million for FY 2025 marks an ambitious goal and a substantial increase from previous years. NHA has outlined various projects across the Navajo Nation, focused on infrastructure improvements and new housing developments.

Key FY 2025 projects and their statuses include:
  • Construction of 20 new rental units to address local housing shortages in Pinehill, N.M. is slated. The project is shovel-ready, and construction is set to begin soon.
  • Construction has begun for 60 new rental units in Window Rock, AZ and is expected to be completed by April 2026.
  • Demolition and redevelopment of a former senior living facility in Pinon, Arizona is also scheduled, which includes the replacement of 14 hogan-style elderly homes and an assisted living facility. The demolition phase is complete and preparation for new construction is underway.
  • In Mariano Lake, N.M., modernization of 21 rental units is underway and the project is 75 percent complete. It is expected to be completed by Jan. 2025.
NHA’s FY 2025 IHP also focuses on effectively utilizing all allocated funds, enhancing the coordination between various departments, adhering to NAHASDA and other federal regulations, and collaborating with federal, local, and Navajo government entities. These objectives will address housing needs, streamline processes, maintain funding and support, and promote infrastructure and community development.

Nellie Gilmore, NHA’s Grants Manager, elaborated on the rigorous process for project selection and inclusion in the IHP. "We started in January 2024, and through a mandatory proposal process for all 15-housing management and maintenance offices, we received 70 proposals. After a thorough evaluation by our team and scoring committee, 30 projects amounting to $43 million were selected for funding."

Gilmore highlighted that this approach was in response to numerous complaints from field offices about boarded-up units and infrastructure issues. The mandatory proposal process and subsequent orientation and training sessions ensured that all field offices could participate and compete for funding. This method has not only increased the number of proposals but also their quality, resulting in more shovel-ready projects that meet the community’s needs.