The North Fork Rancheria Indian Housing Authority (NFRIHA) recently received a prestigious industry award for creating more than two dozen affordable homes in its community.
The North Fork LIHTC Homes #1 project was recently awarded the 2024 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award in the Housing for Native American or Tribal Populations category during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Presented by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC), the Edson Awards recognize Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments that strengthen communities, improve resident opportunities, and support economies nationwide. Ten members of Congress attended the awards ceremony.
North Fork Rancheria Indian Housing Authority Executive Housing Director Paul Irwin accepted the award on behalf of the North Fork LIHTC Homes #1 project.
“I would like to thank our Board of Commissioners, Tribal Council, as well as our consultant Travois, including their affordable housing, design, and asset management teams that have guided us through this project. I would also like to thank our engineers at Blair Church and Flynn for their efforts on this difficult site, and our investment partner RBC Community Investments,” Irwin said.
“This project was a significant achievement toward addressing our Tribal housing need. It is difficult to otherwise secure this level of funding through our typical funding sources, and this project was years in the making. I want to thank the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition for the recognition and specifically for including Native American housing. This type of recognition and exposure is valuable for Tribal projects, and I hope that other Tribes can also utilize this funding source to benefit their communities.”
Without a land base, the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (Tribe) acquired lands in North Fork, California, for housing and community development. North Fork is in Central California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, south of Yosemite National Park, and adjacent to the Sierra National Forest. The North Fork LIHTC Homes #1 development provides 26 units for families in the Tribal community, featuring one- through four-bedroom layouts.
Additionally, the Tribe offers after-school programming for children living in the homes and opportunities for adult education, health and wellness, and skill-building programs.
Travois, a Certified B Corp. that promotes housing and economic development in Native communities, provided consultant and architecture services to help the NFRIHA fund and develop the homes.
Bryan Schuler, chief strategy officer for Travois, attended the ceremony with Paul Irwin and members of the NFRIHA Board of Commissioners, including Chairperson Richard Cline, Vice-Chair Bobby Hale, and Treasurer Patricia Forster.
“I was honored to attend the awards ceremony and hear firsthand about the incredible impact that North Fork LIHTC Homes #1 has on the community,” Schuler said. “It was truly meaningful to see NFRIFHA recognized nationally for its hard work and dedication to affordable housing.”
The development received $10.6 million in LIHTC equity through the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) and $5 million from the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Grant Program. To finance the development, they also received annual IHBG formula funding and Indian Health Service Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction resources. RBC Community Investments was the investor.
“In recent years, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee has taken important steps to improve Tribal housing authorities’ ability to access the LIHTC program,” said Trent Rogers, senior project manager for Travois. “North Fork LIHTC Homes #1 is a prime example of what can be accomplished, and we look forward to the continued production and success of LIHTC housing in Native communities within the state.”
A Travois client most recently won an Edson award in 2022, when the Yurok Indian Housing Authority was recognized for its Woo-Mehl LIHTC Homes development on its land sharing geography with California.