Indian Health Service Announces $15.3 Million Investment in Staff Quarters Projects

Indian Health Service Announces $15.3 Million Investment in Staff Quarters Projects

The Indian Health Service is announcing $15.3 million in funding for eight staff quarters projects to support the health care workforce and facilities in Indian Country. Provided through the Healthcare Facilities Construction Funds Quarters Program, funding will be used for the following projects:

• Hoopa Valley Tribe, California Area - $3,651,000
• Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Alaska Area - $3,000,000
• Santee Sioux Nation, Great Plains Area - $2,386,000
• Chugachmiut, Alaska Area - $2,000,000
• Karuk Tribe, California Area - $1,505,000
• Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA), Alaska Area - $1,055,000
• Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, Great Plains Area - $977,000
• Omaha Tribe, Great Plains Area - $757,000

"Building additional staff quarters is a huge investment in the future of our workforce infrastructure," said IHS Chief of Staff Clayton Fulton. "Projects like these are critical for Indian Country and ultimately improve care for the Tribal communities that we proudly serve. This demonstrates the continued commitment of Secretary Kennedy and the Trump Administration, the strength of IHS-Tribal partnerships that are addressing important infrastructure needs, as well as our commitment to recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified professionals in critical positions across the country."

The Division of Facilities Planning and Construction conducted a request for project proposals in January and received 22 applications from six IHS Areas. The top eight were then selected based on their clear and demonstrated housing needs, remoteness, cost, readiness for implementation, and the ability to support essential staffing. Eligible applicants included federally operated facilities and Tribally operated facilities under Title I or Title V.

In fiscal year 2026, $13.575 million was appropriated for the Healthcare Facilities Construction Funds Quarters Program, representing an investment to strengthen operations and enhance staff well-being across the Indian health system. Combined with available prior-year carryover funds, a total of $15.331 million will help address the shortage of safe, functional, and energy-efficient staff housing. The 2026 appropriation directs the IHS and the selected quarters projects to further reduce environmental impacts and incorporate renewable energy, green infrastructure, and modern energy-efficiency standards.

The IHS Office of Environmental Health and Engineering supports IHS and Tribal communities by providing functional, well maintained health care facilities and staff housing, technical and financial assistance, and a broad range of environmental health and injury prevention activities throughout Indian Country.

The Indian Health Service, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 575 federally recognized tribes in 37 states. Follow the agency via social media on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.