Our final Superhero Awards spotlight is the 2017 Project Team of the Year, Red Lake Reservation Housing Authority.
Red Lake Reservation Housing Authority (RLRHA) broke ground on the first successful tribal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) project in the country in 1998, and their team hasn’t stopped building and rehabilitating affordable housing since! They recently completed construction and lease-up on their 11th tax credit project, which included the rehabilitation of 40 homes in desperate need of repair. Last fall, they were awarded tax credits for their 12th LIHTC project, a 35-unit new-construction project.
RLRHA relentlessly pursues diverse funding sources including tax credits, Affordable Housing Program grants, and a Capital Magnet Fund grant to fund the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing on their reservation. They are always ready to find solutions to whatever challenges come their way – from closing, to construction, to compliance – to turn the tribe’s housing goals into reality.
Linda McGraw-Adams, assistant executive director of RLRHA, accepted the award at the luncheon with a hug and a heartfelt thank you to the crowd. After the conference, she provided this statement:
“This is such an honor and a tribute to all the commitment of the Red Lake Reservation Housing staff, our housing director, Jane L. Barret, our Board of Commissioners, and our Red Lake Tribal Nation!” said Linda. “We are so blessed to have leaders with vision and the courage to be innovative and open to trying new ideas. We are also grateful to our partners, without whom all the wonderful housing developments would not be possible: To Travois, Raymond James Tax Credit Funds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, First National Bank of Bemidji, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Rural Development, Operation Walking Shield, Edison Capital, HUD and Title VI. We are so blessed to be able to work with such awesome organizations.”
RLRHA represents what we are all striving for in Indian Country affordable housing. The team has used new ideas and courageous action to innovate in our field, and we’re so happy to be a part of their success. Congratulations!
Read about our 2017 Superhero Awards winners:
- Economic Development Professional of the Year: Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc.
- Haven Professional of the Year: Jean Defoe, finance manager of Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority
- Housing Professional of the Year: Floyd Tortalita, Pueblo of Acoma Housing Authority executive director
- Pillar Professional of the Year: Danny Chatter, maintenance supervisor at Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Housing