Tribes in Idaho, Oregon and Washington are building new tribal housing with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“The total was $150 million nationwide, with four grantees in the Northwest totaling about $12 million,” said Tom Carney, director of HUD’s Office of Native American Programs in the Northwest.
Recipients of this round of financing are the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Housing Authority, the Colville Indian Housing Authority, the Quinault Housing Authority and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
An aerial photo shows the completed infrastructure of the Northeast neighborhood in Taholah, with 59 lots for future homes. Federal grants are often a part of larger tribal housing projects.
Mariah Ralston / Courtesy of Quinalt Indian Nation
“This is a great first step to help alleviate some of the historic housing shortage and tremendous housing need in the Pacific Northwest in Indian Country,” Carney said.
The building plans include houses, apartments and semi-detached houses.
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe received $3 million to build 10 new housing units. Five duplexes will be built on the Coeur d’Alene reservation in Plummer, Idaho, Carney said.
The Colville Indian Housing Authority received $6 million to build 18 new homes in Omak, a town on the edge of the Colville Reservation in the foothills of the Okanogan Highlands.
Dale R. Schrock, executive director of the Colville Indian Housing Authority, said the new homes would be built near schools, health facilities, jobs and cultural institutions.
“With these grants, we want to create housing and improve the residential area, including building sidewalks and improving the walkability of the neighborhood,” Schrock said.
The Quinault Housing Authority will receive $3 million to build eight new housing units.
The Quinault tribe is working to move the homes to higher ground because of climate change and the risk of tsunamis, Carney said.
HUD Northwest officials will be on site in Taholah on Wednesday to present the grant to the Quinault tribe, Carney said.
In this May 28, 2014 photo, houses in the village of Taholah on the Quinault Indian Reservation on the Pacific coast of Washington state are seen at right.
Doug Esser / AP
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon will receive $2,916,635 to build eight new housing units.
Shonn Leno, head of housing for the Grand Ronde Housing Authority, said the public housing units are part of a larger project for 53 new apartments, mostly one- and two-bedroom units.
“We have a housing crisis,” Leno said. “With the support of HUD and the tribe, this will be an opportunity to address our current waiting list.”
There are more than 40 people on the waiting list for one-bedroom apartments in the Grande Ronde tribal area who have been waiting three years or more for an apartment, he said.
This grant program shows that HUD is willing to work with tribes to achieve goals for more affordable housing, Leno said.
“Even though they may not get the grant the first time, I encourage tribes to keep trying,” said Leno, who said the Grand Ronde tribe finally received the funding on its fifth try.
Tribes interested in creating more affordable housing are encouraged to apply for a portion of the next $150 million grant, Carney said. Applications must be submitted by Aug. 29.
