Population: Native Americans

CSH Calls for Balanced Policy That Protects Both Housing and Health Supports

The Senate’s passage of the reconciliation bill presents a deeply mixed outcome for the supportive housing field. While we acknowledge the inclusion of important housing provisions such as expanding and making permanent the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and the New Markets Tax Credit, we cannot overlook the harmful trade-offs embedded in this legislation.

These housing investments, while significant, are not sufficient to offset the damage caused by provisions that undermine access to essential healthcare and basic supports for people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The bill imposes new barriers to Medicaid and nutrition assistance that will disproportionately impact individuals with complex health and housing needs. These are the very people supportive housing is designed to serve.

Supportive housing succeeds because it pairs affordable homes with the services that help people stay housed and maintain their health. When the government restricts access to those services, it weakens the entire model. Limiting state Medicaid funding tools, imposing burdensome recertification requirements, and expanding work requirements for vulnerable populations all threaten the stability and well-being of those we serve.

CSH remains committed to advancing effective policies that recognize the interconnectedness of housing, healthcare, and human services. We urge Congress to consider the full impact of this legislation, not just its housing investments, but also the barriers it creates for those most in need and the burdens it places on the communities in their districts. We will continue to work with partners across sectors to ensure that supportive housing remains a viable and effective solution to homelessness and housing insecurity.
 
Deborah De Santis
CSH President and CEO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | New York, NY – CSH today announced Diana “Dede” Yazzie Devine, a longtime community development advocate for America’s Indigenous people, was appointed to its Board of Directors. Devine is President and CEO of Phoenix-based Native American Connections (NAC), which provides affordable housing, behavioral health, and economic development services that honor the cultural traditions and practices of the region’s tribal communities.

Devine joins the 18-member board of directors comprising leaders in affordable housing, human services, advocacy, legal-justice system, healthcare, and real estate. Devine brings extensive housing and services expertise to the board at a time when our country is experiencing an affordable housing crisis resulting in increasing homelessness as well as an overreliance on institutional care.

“Dede has been a leader in community development in Arizona with a deep understanding of how Community Development Financial Institutions like CSH can have a lasting impact. Her hands-on experience creating housing and services solutions and developing workforce programs will be important to our organization as we operationalize our new strategic plan that identifies Housing, Services, and Economic Stability as key focus areas”, said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH.

Devine’s career began in substance abuse counseling focusing on serving Native American urban and tribal entities in Phoenix. She joined NAC in 1979. Since then, Devine has guided NAC to own and operate more than 1,200 affordable and supportive housing homes for tribal members experiencing homelessness. NAC also provides comprehensive and culturally appropriate behavioral health services and promotes economic development among tribal communities.

“As CEO of Native American Connections (NAC), it has been an honor to serve my Community for over 40 years,” Devine reflects. “NAC has been a leader in creating housing solutions for Phoenix’s growing sheltered and unsheltered homeless population, and I am now honored to be able to share our lessons learned at the National level with my representation on the Corporation for Supportive Housing Board of Directors.”

Devine sits on various boards and committees and has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership and service.

“We could not be more delighted to welcome Dede to the CSH board of directors. She brings a wealth of expertise, compassion, and commitment to an already dedicated group of leaders focused on guiding CSH along its journey toward housing justice,” said Stephen Norman, Chair of CSH Board of Directors. “Her experience and approach will help guide CSH in engaging communities with humility as we offer solutions to housing instability customized to local needs and preferences.”

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Media Contact: Jesse Dean | 347-931-0132 or [email protected]