Thanks to a lot of hard work and perseverance, the Yakama Nation Housing Authority’s sixth Low Income Housing Tax Credit project will move forward after it received approval yesterday from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC).
Having been involved with the project for the last two years, I was thrilled to join YNHA at the meeting to help present it to the WSHFC commissioners and watch it receive approval.
While YNHA is a seasoned developer and has built or rehabilitated a total of 172 homes through five other LIHTC projects, YNHA Tax Credit 6 will be its biggest project yet — 88 homes will be rehabilitated! It will also hold Travois’ record for most units in a project!
Of the 88 units, 32 of the homes are single-family and another 56 units are bundled in duplexes. All homes are located in the Apas Goudy subdivision on the Yakama Nation Reservation in Wapato, WA, and were originally constructed between 1967 and 1972. This LIHTC project will substantially rehabilitate the homes to update finishes, fixtures and building systems to current building standards and improve energy efficiency.
“The Yakama Nation Housing Authority is pleased to be awarded tax credits to do major renovations to our Apas Goudy rental housing park in Wapato, WA, which was our first development project 45 years ago,” said Elena L. Bassett, chairperson for YNHA. “The work will involve not only renovations but also weatherization, energy efficiency, utility upgrades and employment for our tribal members. The tenants will be able to enjoy the use of a new community center on site for their children, plan family gatherings, and have after-school activities. The goal of YNHA to provide decent, affordable and standard housing for the tenants will continue to be realized in the renovation of these 88 units.”
Once renovations are completed, the homes will be rented to families with some set aside to serve large-family households and others for people with disabilities. YNHA and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation will provide important services to the tenants, including adult education and wellness classes and after-school programs for children.
The new community center (rendering pictured) will be built at the site of an existing community building, which is being demolished. The community center will include meeting spaces and a community kitchen.
Congratulations to the project team and the Yakama Nation! We’re proud to have been involved!
God bless us all
Great news coming out of Yakama Nation Housing Authority and Yakama Tribe! It’s a plus in many ways, thanks to anyone involved with this huge Project! Good to see this Post this A.M.
My company did the Greeley heights project for the Warm Springs Housing. It was a great pleasure and extremely successful.
Thanks
Steve Mason
Advanced Native Construction
I got some question(s) : Where are all the current residents going to move when the reconstruction starts? Are they going to receive help with moving or are they going to be left out in the cold? Did anyone think of the elders, the children, the pregnant women? Why are certain people getting chosen for relocation?
Hello – Thank you for reading. In order to apply for funding for rehabilitation projects through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, a relocation plan is required by the state allocating agency. For this project, the Yakama Nation Housing Authority (YNHA) created and submitted a plan to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission that follows YNHA’s documented Relocation Policy and Procedures, which are approved by the YNHA Board of Commissioners.
Rehabilitation projects that use federal funding are also required to follow the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, now known as URA, which established standards to ensure displaced people are treated fairly and equitably. More information here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/affordablehousing/training/web/relocation/overview
Reasonable relocation costs related to a household’s temporary relocation are reimbursed by the project, and YNHA staff may elect to help with the move using YNHA labor, or hire a moving company at no cost to the family or resident.
We understand that elders, families and children will need to bear with the inconvenience of temporary relocation. In our experience, once presented with an updated home with lower maintenance burdens and utility costs, families are happy with the improvements, the majority of which have been paid for by an investor. In this project, the majority of families will be able to move back into their own units after more than $100,000 of improvements have been made.
Progress, good news for our people. Hopefully those new homes will be well care for like they were when Apas first opened for families. They used to have contests for the cleanest yard, the best garden and lawn. If tenants couldn’t afford to pay the entire monthly rent they were given the option to work it off by cleaning vacant houses to prepare for new renters. People used to take pride in their homes back then in the very early 70’s. Let’s take this pride in ourselves back…we can do it. Good job, YNHA…
Good job YNHA. Hopefully our people will take pride in their new homes whenever they move in. To be as responsible hard workers as our ancestors were and be great examples for our future children….I see this as a much needed improvement and a step in promoting honest hard working adults with values and responsibility to those following, our children, our future..clean, sober, self respect, ……