The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Indian Housing Block Grant funds totaling $6 million to three tribes in northeast Washington.

HUD awarded about $2.4 million to the Spokane Indian Housing Authority, based in Wellpinit; about $3.5 million to the Colville Indian Housing Authority, based in Nespelem; and about $100,000 to the Kalispell Indian Community, based in Usk.

The funds are intended to benefit low-income families living on Indian reservations or in other communities. The amount of each grant is based on a formula that considers local needs and housing units under management by tribes or designated entities, HUD says in a press release announcing the grants.

The awards are part of some $33.4 million distributed to tribes throughout Washington state and $404 million distributed nationwide, with another $250 million in Indian housing block grants to be allocated nationwide throughout the year.