09/24/2026
Northern Ponca Housing Authority Awarded $5 Million to Build Six New Affordable Homes in Lincoln
Three planned duplexes will expand housing options for income-qualified Tribal families and help address overcrowding.
NIOBRARA, Neb. — The Northern Ponca Housing Authority (NPHA) has been awarded $5 million through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive Program to develop six new affordable rental homes in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The project will include three duplexes on NPHA-owned land at 1701 West A Street. Each home is planned to include approximately 1,500 square feet of living space, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached garage. NPHA will manage the completed homes as affordable rentals for income-qualified Tribal households.
The development responds to a documented shortage of housing available to the families NPHA serves. At the time of its grant application, NPHA reported 171 households on its housing waiting list, including 30 seeking homes in Lincoln, where the housing authority had just 13 rental units. The new homes will help address that gap, with an emphasis on serving households experiencing overcrowding.
“We have families waiting for a home because there simply are not enough affordable options available,” said Joey Nathan, Executive Director of the Northern Ponca Housing Authority. “This funding will allow us to build six new homes in Lincoln, where we have a clear need for additional housing. For families who are doubled up with relatives or struggling to find a place they can afford, having a home of their own can make a lasting difference.”
NPHA selected the West A Street property because it already owns the land and the residential location offers access to existing utility connections, amenities, and services. The duplex configuration will make efficient use of the property while providing two-bedroom homes suited to needs identified through NPHA’s waiting list.
The $5 million project budget supports the work needed to bring the development from an undeveloped site to completed housing development, including architectural and engineering services, site preparation, utility connections, construction, driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping, along with project oversight and administration.
“This award reflects the importance of investing in Tribal communities and empowering Tribes to address local needs with local solutions,” said Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Chairwoman Candace Schmidt. “We are grateful for this opportunity to continue offering high-quality, affordable, and accessible housing to our people and our elders.”
The Lincoln development builds on NPHA’s recent housing investments, including Ponca Heights in Omaha, where NPHA completed 20 homes and a community center for elderly and disabled residents in 2025.
The proposed project schedule anticipates completion by July 2031. Development will proceed through environmental review, design, permitting, and contractor procurement before site work and home construction. NPHA will select residents through its housing application and waiting-list process, with eligibility verified before occupancy. The homes are planned to remain affordable for at least 30 years.
HUD announced NPHA’s award during the 2026 National Tribal Housing Summit as part of $150 million in Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive funding awarded to 31 Tribal communities nationwide.
For more information about NPHA’s housing programs, contact Justine Knapp, [email protected] or visit www.poncatribe-ne.gov.
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