The Leech Lake Reservation Housing Authority and the White Earth Reservation Housing Authority will build a total of 55 units of affordable housing in Minnesota, thanks to awards of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) recently announced by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Of the 42 applications submitted to MHFA in the second round this year, ten received awards.
Travois, Inc. provided consulting services for both applications.
“These tax credits will allow Leech Lake to begin its seventh LIHTC project, and it will be the fourth for White Earth,” said David Bland, chairman of Travois. “Both reservations, like many reservations across the United States, are suffering a housing crisis. Families with children and previously homeless families will benefit, and these residents will have an opportunity to become homeowners and build wealth in the years ahead through the LIHTC program.”
The Leech Lake Reservation Housing Authority of Cass Lake, Minn., was awarded $643,942 in tax credits. Of the 25 new homes that will be built, four homes will be reserved to provide shelter for homeless tribal members, and the remaining homes will target single parents with children. The homes will be affordable to households at 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Energy-Star appliances, ceiling fans, garages and high speed internet access are additional amenities offered.
Leech Lake has six previous LIHTC projects, it has received tax credits awards to build or rehabilitate 170 homes. Its waiting list currently includes 180 families in need of housing.
The White Earth Reservation Housing Authority of Waubun, Minn., received an award of $846,302 in tax credits for its fourth LIHTC project, the construction of 30 new single-family homes. Four homes are reserved for long-term homeless tenants and all homes will be targeted to single parent households. Twenty three-bedroom units will be built, along with 10 two-bedroom units. The homes will be affordable to households at 50 and 60 percent AMI, and high speed internet access will be offered among other amenities.
“All of our efforts came together,” said Robert Durant, executive director of White Earth Reservation Housing Authority. “Now 30 new homes will be constructed throughout our tribal nation, and this construction will provide employment for our people. We all can be proud of stimulating our economy to benefit everyone in this area and sharing the road to national economic recovery.”
In its three LIHTC previous projects, White Earth built a total of 89 new homes, though it still has more than 100 families waiting for affordable housing.