3 minute read
Research Design
The research methodology is centered around qualitative data gathered from a series of interviews from Pueblo Tribally Designated Housing Entities - housing directors. Additional interviews with Indian architects/urban design consultants, Indian law lawyers, and a tribal bank CEO help further provide contextual information on socio-economic conditions in Indian Country. All Pueblo TDHEs in New Mexico were initially contacted via email and phone to arrange interviews and dates to visit tribes in person. Select interviews with Pueblo TDHE - Housing Directors doing innovative tribal housing development are presented as case studies in this report. I analyze the experiences of Pueblo TDHEs utilizing federal Indian housing programs and their efforts to cover project cost, complying with construction and design standards, setting rent and mortgage limits, and ensuring tribal members have access to mortgages and loans.
The focus of this research is to holistically understand the challenges contemporary federal Indian housing policies present to Pueblo TDHEs’ ability to develop and provide housing to tribal members. Additionally, I seek to understand how Pueblo TDHEs are adopting innovative solutions to address restrictive paternalistic clauses and funding challenges imposed by Indian housing policy. In this research I will examine the weaknesses of contemporary federal Indian housing policies and programs in contrast to suspend historical Indian housing policies and programs.
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RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.) How has HUD’s implementation of Indian tribal housing assistance programs (i.e. design standards, funding allocation, construction processes) created challenges for Pueblo TDHEs’ ability to develop or maintain housing on tribal land? Programs: 1937 Mutual Housing Act 1996 National American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
2.) How do Pueblo Tribally Designated Housing Entities adapt to HUD construction and funding regulations and develop housing units on tribal land?
CASE STUDIES
Case studies of Pueblo TDHEs act as a primary source of qualitative data to understand the challenges Indian housing policies pose to housing development and how TDHEs adjust to challenges. Interviews were conducted over the phone and ranged on average between 1.5 - 2hrs. Interviewees were asked a range of questions pertaining to HUD’s policies impacts on housing development and tribal members access to home loans. The structure of the interviews enabled Housing Directors to expand on questions to uncover information that would put the responses in context. 39
LIMITATIONS
Due to COVID19, an unusual global health pandemic, I was restricted from traveling to New Mexico. Additionally, I was revoked permission onto Pueblo tribal land due to risk of contaminating tribal members and/or being contaminated by individuals during travel. Stay at home/work from home ordinances in Pueblo Country disrupted 3 remaining scheduled interviews. These remaining interviews were ultimately cancelled at the request of Housing Directors, who were trying to adjust to working from home and rapidly changing COVID19 conditions. As a result, I was not able to further engage in person with Pueblo TDHE - Housing Directors or document on site conditions in person. Despite outreaching to all 16 Pueblo TDHEs, 10 out of 16 Housing Directors agreed to an interview, and 3 of the 10 were ultimately cancelled due to COVID19. That being said, it is important to note, the limited number of Housing Director voices can potentially have an impact on findings from Pueblo TDHEs.
Last but not least, it is important to understand every tribe is different, even amongst the Pueblo tribes. The challenges Pueblo tribes face are particularly unique compared to other federally recognized tribes given the fact that pueblo tribes were never forced to relocate, and they had built permanent structures spanning back hundreds of years that were being occupied long before HUD’s intervention. Additionally, even within Pueblo tribes, every tribe has unique housing typologies and inheritance customs and communal religious practices. Not being Pueblo Indian or having had experience growing up in Indian Country will limit my understanding of the on-ground conditions experienced by tribal members outside of housing challenges.
