Two Affordable Housing Program (AHP) applications prepared by Travois, Inc. were each awarded $400,000 recently. These awards, given by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, will go toward the construction of 71 new housing units on American Indian reservations in Arizona and Washington, reducing tribal contributions to the projects. Both projects are funded primarily through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Bank of Arizona, a member of FHLBank San Francisco, sponsored the applications, and Travois acted as the application consultant. In total, Travois has assisted 21 tribes with 40 successful AHP applications, helping them to receive nearly $16.5 million in AHP funds to build or rehabilitate Indian Country housing.
“Affordable housing in Indian Country is much needed and challenging to develop,” said Jim Yacenda, vice president and community investment officer, FHLBank San Francisco. “Putting together the right partners and development teams is always a very important part of our AHP selection process, and we are proud to be part of the partnerships Bank of Arizona has established with the Yavapai-Apache and Quinault housing agencies.”
A summary of the awards:
In Arizona, Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Housing (YANTH) will use its $400,000 award to help build 36 new units, including one unit for an on-site resident manager, in the Tunlii subdivision in Camp Verde. The project will include three triplexes, four duplexes, 15 three-bedroom single family homes and five four-bedroom single family homes. Seven units are reserved for residents with mental or physical disabilities.
The project site will include two playgrounds, extensive tribal social services, empowerment activities and other community-related amenities that are available to all tribal members free of charge. Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Housing has developed 94 units in three previous Low Income Housing Tax Projects and oversees 167 other units.
“With the economy the way that it is, every dollar, every cent goes a long way,” said YANTH Executive Director Rick Preston. “We are very fortunate to have won this award since our other funding resources are shrinking annually. With these AHP funds, we plan to address the need for homes on the nation’s land. ”
In Washington, the Quinault Housing Authority (QHA) will put its $400,000 award toward the construction of 35 new single-family homes, which are currently under construction in Taholah on the Quinault Reservation. The project includes nine two-bedroom homes, 12 three-bedroom homes, 12 four-bedroom homes and two five-bedroom homes. Seven units are reserved for residents with mental or physical disabilities. The homes will be highly energy efficient and will have landscaped yards.
Tenants will have access to the Quinault Indian Nation’s extensive social services network, including a counseling staff that provides credit counseling, home maintenance training, and personal budget and financial management assistance.
“The Quinault Indian Nation has a need for more than 130 additional homes, as evidenced by the Quinault Housing Authority’s rental waiting list,” said QHA Acting Executive Director Bill Parkhurst. “While the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides an annual appropriation to Indian tribes, it cannot meet QHA’s need for new homes and increased infrastructure capacity. The Quinault Housing Authority is very pleased to be awarded the Affordable Housing Program grant for this project.”
“Travois is extremely proud two more of our clients have received Affordable Housing Program awards,” said David Bland, chairman of Travois. “These awards fit seamlessly into the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program and help tribal housing authorities build and maintain much-needed housing.”
Affordable Housing Program (AHP)
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s AHP makes funds available to member financial institutions working in partnerships with housing sponsors or developers to create affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities. AHP grants are awarded through a competitive application process to finance the purchase, construction or rehabilitation of low-income or moderate-income housing and can be used in combination with other programs and funding sources, including the LIHTC program and the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). For more information about the AHP, visit the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.
About Travois
Travois, Inc. is the leading housing and economic development consulting firm in Indian Country. Since 1995, Travois has brought $350 million in private equity capital to Indian Country, which has helped build or rehabilitate more than 3,500 homes through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, and has raised more than $40 million to support tribal commercial ventures through the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. Travois New Markets received an $80 million allocation of New Markets Tax Credits in 2009, which it is working to invest in qualified projects. The Travois family of companies offers housing and economic development assistance, compliance support, design services and comprehensive training to the nation’s American Indian population with clients from Alaska to Maine.