Owens Valley Indian Housing Authority

Up until 1962 that Indian Tribes, throughout the nation, were not eligible for Housing and Urban development funding. In 1966, the United States Congress mandated that HUD provide financial and technical assistance to establish Indian Housing Authorities. HUD required each of the Owens Valley Tribes to adopt a Tribal Ordinance, which gave certain powers and authority to the Board of Commissioners. The formation of the Owens Valley Indian Housing Authority was initiated in early 1970 by the Big Pine and Lone Pine Reservations, assisted by representative of the Inter-Tribal Council of California, from their office in Independence, California. Incorporation of the Housing Authority was completed in 1972. The Bishop Reservation joined the OVIHA in 1974, followed by Bridgeport and Fort Independence. With the enactment of NAHASDA in 1996, the Tribes were given the opportunity to administer their own housing programs. In 1997, the Bishop and Fort Independence Reservations elected to do so and the Big Pine Reservation followed suit in 2001. Today, Owens Valley Indian Housing Authority functions as an independent body with the necessary legal powers and authority to develop and manage housing to income eligible Native Americans.

Housing Programs