Woo-Mehl LIHTC Homes, developed by the Yurok Indian Housing Authority (YIHA), is a 2022 recipient of the Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award (Edson Awards) in the Housing for Native American or Tribal Populations category. Administered by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC), the Edson Awards recognize affordable housing developments and organizations that have demonstrated especially impactful use of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).
“We congratulate the Yurok Indian Housing Authority (YIHA) on their well-deserved Edson Award,” said Elizabeth Glynn, Travois CEO. “We’re proud to have worked with YIHA on this important development to bring new homes and amenities to community members.”
The Edson Awards honor LIHTC developments that are strengthening communities, expanding opportunities for community members and boosting economies in urban, suburban and rural areas across the country.
“This year’s Edson Award winners have changed lives and neighborhoods for the better and show how much more we could gain if we further expand the program,” said Emily Cadik, AHTCC chief executive officer.
Woo-Mehl LIHTC Homes provides 17 affordable housing units to the community on fee land within the Yurok Indian Tribe Reservation. The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee awarded the development LIHTCs that generated over $6.7 million in investor equity from Hunt Capital Partners. Travois provided consulting and architectural services for the development.
“These houses offer a lifeline to overcrowding and homelessness which is an issue faced by the nation but amplified in Indian Country,” said Nicole Sager, executive director of the Yurok Indian Housing Authority. “I want to express our sincerest gratitude for the assistance of Travois in making the project a reality, and the AHTCC for honoring the Yurok Indian Housing Authority with this award.”
In addition to providing safe, stable, and affordable housing for tribal members, the development also includes a 2,000-square-foot community building, which features designs inspired by traditional Yurok homes. The community building houses a kitchen, multi-purpose room, laundry facilities, an office space and business center. The development also built covered pavilions, a basketball court and three fish smokehouses. The smokehouses provide a central location to clean, prepare, and cook fish and a sacred space to honor Yurok traditions and heritage.
For more information about the 2022 Edson Awards, visit the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition website.