November is Native American Heritage Month. While we recognize and honor the rich history, culture, and resilience of Native Americans, we must also address the disparities and challenges that Indigenous communities continue to face. From the inception of this country, colonists subjected Native communities to brutal violence, forced removal, and genocide, which caused a sharp decline in the Indigenous population, as well as trauma that would continue on for generations. To this day, Native Americans continue to experience the effects of the atrocities committed against their communities, and other harmful policies enacted throughout the history of this country. Thankfully, fair housing law provides us with some protections to combat and address discrimination and inequity, allowing families to move toward stability.
The Impact of Federal Policies on Native American Communities
In addition to the massacres and genocide that Native Americans experienced for centuries, federal policies implemented throughout history have also had significant impacts on Native American communities. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced removal of 60,000 Native Americans from the East in exchange for new territory west of the Mississippi. The journey became known as the “Trail of Tears,” as thousands died from disease, starvation, and exposure along the way.
In 1887, the Dawes Act, also known as the General Allotment Act, sought to force Native American families to assimilate into “civilized” culture by dissolving tribal lands and tribal leadership. This Act broke up communal tribal reservation lands into small, individually owned plots, which were then sold. Although both Natives and non-Natives could buy the plots, by 1934, non-Natives took ownership of more than sixty percent of remaining Native land. Without access to their traditional hunting and gathering sites, many Native American families were forced to rely on government rations as a result.
Over a century later, during the late 1940’s and 1950’s, the U.S. government began “urban relocation” efforts, pushing Native Americans to leave rural reservations and move to metropolitan areas as a way to force assimilation and end federal supervision over Native tribes. Many Native people who relocated under this program faced discrimination, unemployment, low-paying jobs, and loss of cultural supports. To make matters worse, the Bureau of Indian Affairs only paid for one-way trips to metropolitan areas, leaving many Native Americans unable to afford to return home after facing these challenges.
Current Housing Challenges Facing Native Communities
Today, Native American communities continue to face housing challenges, including discrimination, housing instability, and homelessness. This is true for those living on reservations, as well as in urban settings. On tribal lands, there is a severe housing shortage, and homes often exist in substandard condition. This has led some Native Americans to seek housing in off-reservation border towns or other urban areas. However, many report facing discrimination when attempting to rent or buy homes outside of tribal lands. One study revealed that one in four Native Americans experience housing discrimination, but we know that number is likely much higher, due to underreporting.
Centuries of discrimination and inequality have resulted in widespread housing instability among Native American communities. Native Americans experience the highest rates of homelessness in the United States. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Native Americans – along with Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, and Black communities – have experienced the largest increases in homelessness in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors like rising rents and a slower jobs recovery rate have contributed to homelessness among Native Americans, who are already more likely to be severely housing cost burdened. Additionally, Native Americans experiencing homelessness may face more barriers to accessing emergency resources, resulting in higher rates of unsheltered homelessness.
Protecting the Fair Housing Rights of Native Americans
The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on a person’s race, color, national origin, or religion, among other protected classes. That means that discriminating against someone because of their Native American heritage is a clear violation of fair housing law.
As fair housing advocates, we acknowledge that some Indigenous folks may be reluctant to file fair housing complaints due to understandable mistrust in government entities, which have historically committed abuses toward Native communities. That being said, The Fair Housing Center stands firm in our commitment to ensuring fair housing for all people. We work to make sure that all of our clients’ cases are handled with professionalism, care, and respect. Individuals who believe they have experienced housing discrimination can report it to the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research online, by phone, or via email. Residents outside of Northeast Ohio can use the National Fair Housing Alliance’s “Find Help” tool to locate their nearest fair housing agency for further assistance. All people have the right to fair and equitable housing in the United States, and fair housing advocates are here to make that right a reality.
The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the federal government.