Housing

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History

When most people think of Native American homes, they picture a teepee. But that's only a small part of the story – and it doesn't show what life looks like today at all.

Long before Europeans arrived, Native Americans built very different homes depending on where they lived. The Pueblo people of the Southwest, for example, built tall stone and clay buildings – some of them are still standing today, over 1,000 years later. 

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​Today

Today, most Native Americans live in regular houses and apartments – just like everyone else. But many face serious housing problems. Around 40% of houses on reservations are in bad condition, compared to just 6% outside of Native communities. Native Americans are also more likely than any other group in the US to live in a home that is overcrowded or has no working kitchen or bathroom. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)

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On top of that, Native Americans experience homelessness at higher rates than the average American – around 1 in 200. (National League of Cities)