LIVING CONDITIONS About 22% of America’s 5.2 million Native Americans live on tribal lands. Living conditions on the reservations have been cited as "comparable to Third World". It is impossible to describe the many factors that have contributed to the challenges that Native Americans face today, but the following facts about the most pressing issues of housing, health,and unemployment give a hint of what life is like for many first Americans.
While formal equality has been legally granted, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders remain among the most economically disadvantaged groups in the country and suffer from high levels of alcoholism and suicide.
In addition, many American Indians are living in substandard housing. About 40% of on-reservation housing is considered inadequate. The waiting list for tribal housing is long and overcrowding is inevitable. Most families will not turn away family members or anyone who needs a place to stay. It is not uncommon for 3 to 4 generations to live in a two-bedroom home. Further diminishing the quality of reservation housing is the noticeable absence of utilities. While most Americans take running water, telephones, and electricity for granted, many reservation families live without these luxuries. This increases the potential for health risk, especially in the more isolated areas.
The IHS is underfunded and many of the local IHS facilities lack the basic amenities to provide quality and excellent healthcare services. Mostly the local IHS facilities are distant from the Native Americans. It makes it a grueling process for the locals to access the facility. American Indians and Alaska Natives born today have a life expectancy that is 5.5 years less than the U.S. all races population (73.0 years to 78.5 years, respectively). Native Americans continue to die at higher rates than other Americans in many categories, including diabetes, unintentional injuries, assault/homicide or intentional self-harm/suicide.
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