The Seminole Tribe of Florida is planning to build more homes on its 497-acre Hollywood reservation after the federal government streamlined the building process.
Before, tribe members had to wait for approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to build on the reservation’s land, the Sun Sentinel reported. Now, the Seminole Tribe can green-light land leases without Washington’s approval.
“There’s been a long list of tribal members wanting housing on the Hollywood reservation,” Seminole spokesman Gary Bitner told the Sun Sentinel. “There’s been an acute housing shortage.”
The Seminoles are the 15th tribe to sign an agreement that gives them control to approve leases on their reservations thanks to a 2012 law. Fourteen more are in the process, U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said. The U.S. government recognizes 566 tribes. [Sun Sentinel] — Katherine Kallergis