DOWAGIAC — The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians recently received $2.3 million in grant money from the federal government.

The Pokagon Band announced last week that a check of $2,298,779 was presented to members of the Tribal Council by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph P. Galvan. The funding award was announced as part of HUD’s National Homeownership Month in June and the Pokagon Band’s Home Ownership Workshop and Celebration.

The funding is part of the Indian Housing Block Grant, an approach to housing for Native Americans enabled by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996. Eligible IHBG recipients are federally recognized Indian tribes or their tribally designated housing entity, and a limited number of state recognized tribes that were funded under the Indian Housing Program authorized by the United States Housing Act of 1937.

“Responsible homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream,” Galvan said last week when presenting the check to tribal officials. “It provides families with safety and security and can serve as a wealth creation tool for the middle class while growing our economy and helping our communities prosper. We are very proud of all the Pokagon Band does to support its members in these endeavors and know they will put the new Indian Housing Block Grant award to great use.”

Pokagon Band Tribal Chairman John P. Warren said HUD contacted the tribe saying they had announcement to make to the Pokagon Band. As a result, the Pokagon Band planned a homeownership workshop at the Pokagon community center in Dowagiac, featuring a number of programs for Pokagon citizens interested in home ownership. It was during the workshop last week that Galvan presented the tribe the $2.3 million check.

“It was kind of a celebration and also really nice to have this announcement,” Warren said. “We are very happy. … This money will help us meet increasing demand for good, safe, affordable housing and community development for our citizens. We thank Administrator Galvan for coming here to deliver this wonderful news.”

Warren said the grant money, which covers between 35 and 40 percent of the tribe’s housing needs, will go toward construction of affordable housing in both Hartford and Dowagiac for tribal citizens. The rest of the money needed is funded through economic development revenues, Warren said.

Helping Pokagon citizens obtain homeownership is important because it adds to the quality of life of tribal citizens and helps them be independent, productive citizens.

“When you think of Maslow‘s [Hierarchy of needs] the first thing is food and shelter,” he said. “After that, everything seems to fall into place for an individual, because they have stability.”

Going forward, Warren hopes to see the Pokagon housing program continue and grow in order to provide for its citizens.

“It really does provide a sense of community,” he said. “I always say, ‘At one time, we were scattered across the forest and it was like people shipwrecked on a deserted island. Then one day, they were all reunited. It has been a long journey that brought us all back together. … So, I think [the housing program] brings community, self-esteem to the individual and stability for the family.”