Native Americans in Minnesota experience disparities that place them at greater risk for housing instability compared to white Minnesotans. These disparities are especially egregious for the most extreme form of housing instability, homelessness. For example, in 2023 Native Americans were 1.3 times as likely to be cost-burdened, two times as likely to rent and three times as likely to be in poverty compared to white Minnesotans but were 28 times as likely to experience homelessness.

Our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan recognizes that some communities of shared identities, experiences or geographies disproportionally face housing instability and disparities in housing outcomes. These communities are a priority because the current market is not working for them, and they experience barriers in accessing and navigating affordable housing. Indigenous communities and Tribal Nations have experienced oppression, historical trauma, discrimination and disinvestment that has resulted in housing disparities for Native Americans in Minnesota. 

This metric compares how frequently Native American households in Minnesota experience various housing issues compared to white Minnesotans. The metric benchmarks housing outcomes for Native Americans to the subpopulation with the best outcome to demonstrate the full extent of the disparity across populations. A value of one represents a rate of the housing issue that is equal to that of white Minnesotans. 

Cost Burdened: The estimated share of Native American households that pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs compared to white Minnesotans. Race and ethnicity categories are mutually exclusive (e.g., Native American households are non-Latino). The data are from the five-year iPUMS samples of the American Community Survey (ACS).

Renting: The estimated share of Native American households that rent compared to white Minnesotans. Race and ethnicity categories are mutually exclusive (e.g., Native American households are non-Latino). The data are from five-year iPUMS samples of the American Community Survey (ACS).

Poverty: The estimated share of Native American households at or below the Federal Poverty Guideline as published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) compared to white Minnesotans. Race and ethnicity categories are mutually exclusive (e.g., Native households are non-Latino). The data are from five-year iPUMS samples of the American Community Survey (ACS).

For context, the federal poverty thresholds for 2023 (the most recent data in the dashboard) were:

• $14,580 for a one-person household
• $19,720 for a two-person household
• $24,860 for a three-person household
• $30,000 for a four-person household

Experiencing Homelessness: The estimated share of people who experience homelessness compared to white Minnesotans. The data are from the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and one-year iPUMS sample of the American Community Survey (ACS). 

Prior to the 2024 count, the PIT data reported race and ethnicity categories separately (e.g. Native American include those that are Latino). Beginning in 2024, the PIT data included enough detail to report race and ethnicity data as mutually exclusive categories (e.g., Native American households are non-Latino).

The PIT count was not conducted statewide in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local communities conduct the PIT count, and variations in collection methods can result in year-to-year fluctuations for race and ethnicity.