The Pascua Yaqui Tribe recently celebrated the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of Two Yaqui Square, a new 45-unit apartment complex designed specifically to serve its Tribal elders. The celebration marked the completion of the Tribe’s tenth development financed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. It also represents the fourth phase of the Yaqui Square master-plan development, which has created 172 affordable housing units for its Tribal members. These units include single-family homes, townhomes, and multifamily apartment complexes located on the Tribe’s land near Tucson, Arizona.
“This is a tremendous blessing to our community for our elders to live in the same place,” said Rosanna Dominquez, senior center director for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. “Because it allows the teachings to continue to other generations. It allows our cultural traditions to remain strong. The biggest thing is that the elders love is that it’s in the reservation.”
The four-story apartment building supports aging in place while incorporating high-quality materials and amenities tailored for seniors that will benefit the Tribe for generations to come.
A Milestone for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Two Yaqui Square represents a decade of perseverance in leveraging the LIHTC program to build homes for Tribal members. The project secured $21.6 million in tax credit equity through Red Stone Equity Partners and American Express and a $1 million Affordable Housing Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.
“The impact that safe housing has on our health is huge, but it’s been really hard to actually build on the reservation, for many reasons,” stated Herminia Frias, co-chair for housing oversight. “We are doing our best to expand and have homes for families. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit has really helped us get things going.”
Elder-Centered Design by Travois Architecture
Travois Architecture, the architectural arm of Travois — a Certified B Corporation focused exclusively on housing and economic development for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities — served as architect for the project. Working in close collaboration with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Travois architects incorporated features specifically tailored to support senior well-being: a flex space for visiting health services, oversized balconies, large windows, in-unit washers and dryers, low-step showers, emergency pull cord systems, and more than double the required fully accessible units.
“The Tribe really challenged us; they wanted to start with something new and provide beautiful homes for their Tribal members. So, we focused on this sort of desert, modern aesthetic. A lot of the materials that you would see in their traditional housing, stucco, stone, clay, even natural woods. The architecture designs bring traditional styles they had, but in a very modern style,” said Travois architect Jerad Jessee.
Addressing Housing Needs Across Tribal Communities
Projects like Two Yaqui Square are critical not only for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe but for Native communities across the country, where housing shortages are among the most severe in the nation. The LIHTC program, combined with targeted investment from partners committed to Indian Country, has proven to be one of the most effective tools for expanding access to safe, affordable housing in Tribal communities.
“While the housing crisis affects communities nationwide, Tribal communities face especially severe and persistent challenges,” said Tom Dapice, senior vice president and community investment officer of FHLBank San Francisco. “Our targeted investments in affordable housing in Tribal areas are essential to expanding access and addressing urgent needs across Arizona, California, and Nevada.”
Travois has supported the Pascua Yaqui Tribe throughout every phase of the Yaqui Square development, providing LIHTC application assistance, equity closing support, and grant funding procurement.
“Jared and the Travois team have been by our side throughout these projects and they’ll be by our side for the next project” said Ricardo Vital, housing director for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. “Their expertise, their guidance, and what works and doesn’t work [in] Indian Country has helped us tremendously.”