Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Housing – ADOH’s 2012 Housing Hero for Tribal Initiatives

The 2012 Brian Mickelsen Housing Hero Awards were announced at Arizona Department of Housing’s (ADOH) 2012 Arizona Housing Forum held Oct. 4, 2012, at the J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, Ariz. The Brian Mickelsen Housing Hero Awards recognize outstanding service by individuals and organizations for their commitment to housing issues throughout the state of Arizona.

For the third time in eight years, Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Housing (YANTH) was recognized as the award recipient within the Tribal Initiatives category. The 2012 award was in acknowledgement of YANTH’s fourth Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) project, Yavapai-Apache Homes IV, which incorporates several energy-efficient building techniques, including solar panels, to provide low-cost affordable housing to tribal members. The project was completed July 2012.

The 36 new construction units in Yavapai-Apache Homes IV include a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom units interspersed throughout a combination of triplexes, duplexes and single-family homes; one unit has been designated as a resident manager’s unit. The units are large — between 1,400 and 1,900 square feet — and the two playgrounds included in the project will cater to the families and their children. From xeriscape landscaping, cool roofing materials, and insulated foundations on the outside, to low-flow fixtures, Energy Star appliances, and blown-in insulation in the walls and attic inside, the units are powerhouses of preservation.

The icing on the cake is the solar array installed on every home’s roof. The solar arrays are especially appropriate in this area where, on average, 85 percent of the days each year are sunny. These solar panels will offset virtually 100 percent of the units’ energy consumption. This will save the residents considerable amounts in monthly utility bills — especially in those scorching Arizona summers — and will help preserve precious fossil fuels for future generations.

The Yavapai-Apache Homes IV project brings YANTH one step closer to alleviating the dire housing crisis that exists on the Yavapai-Apache Nation Reservation. Travois would like to congratulate YANTH on their 2012 Housing Hero Award!

For photos of the homes, see the album below.

Yavapai-Apache Nation Homes IV album