Friday March 20, 2009, 2:05 pm
HERE IS THE ARTICLE:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Four Affordable Housing Program applications prepared by Travois, Inc., a leading Indian housing consulting company based in Red Lodge, Mont., were successfully awarded funds in January totaling $2.2 million. This grant money will go toward the construction or rehabilitation of 135 housing units for American Indians on reservations in the states of North Carolina, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina will receive $1 million, the largest single amount Travois has successfully obtained in AHP funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. Through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, the Fort Berthold Housing Authority will receive $500,000 and the Dakota Nation Housing Development Corporation will receive a total of $708,106 for two housing projects.

“I am proud that Travois is helping to alleviate the substandard housing conditions for American Indians through the Affordable Housing Program and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program,” said David W. Bland, chairman of Travois. “I hope that all tribes are aware of the availability of these funds.”

The Lumbee Tribe will use the $1 million to rehabilitate 31 duplexes (62 units) in its Hawkeye Sands project. New energy efficient and operational windows, doors, kitchen cabinets and countertops, vanities, electrical upgrades to accommodate clothes dryers, and new interior paint will be included in the rehab. Thirteen of the units will be set aside to serve the homeless, and the rest of the units will house low income tenants. Lumbee Guaranty Bank was the sponsoring member institution.

The Fort Berthold Housing Authority of North Dakota will put its grant money toward a new construction project consisting of two apartment buildings with a total of 28 units. All 28 units will be set aside for the elderly. Lakeside State Bank of New Town, N.D., was the sponsoring member institution.

The Dakota Nation Housing Development Corporation will receive AHP funds for two of its projects for the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. Barker Hill Homes, a new construction project on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in South Dakota, will receive $358,106 in grant money for 21 single-family detached homes. Dakota Magic Homes, a one-story multifamily apartment building, will receive $350,000 for the construction of 24 units on the North Dakota side of the Lake Traverse Reservation. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, was the FHLB member institution that sponsored the applications.

The housing authorities/development corporation will use the extra subsidy to reduce or eliminate the need for tribal funding in their projects.

AHP is a competitive program that provides grants and subsidized loans to support affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities. Member banks partner with developers or community organizations to finance the purchase, construction or rehabilitation of low or moderate income housing. AHP funds can be used in combination with other programs and funding sources, including the LIHTC program and NAHASDA. For more information about AHP, visit the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines at www.fhlbdm.com or the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta at www.fhlbatl.com.

Travois has assisted 15 tribes with 30 successful AHP applications, helping them to receive more than $12.4 million in AHP funding to build or rehabilitate Indian country housing.

Since 1995, Travois has brought $300 million in private equity capital to Indian country, which has helped build or rehabilitate more than 3,000 homes. The Travois family of companies offers development assistance, compliance support, design services and comprehensive training to the nation’s American Indian population with clients across the United States from Washington to Maine.

The 9th Annual Travois Indian Country Tax Credit Conference, created to provide information about tax credit opportunities, will be held Aug. 17 – 19 at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa in New Mexico.

Friday March 20, 2009, 2:29 pm
Praise be to God!!!! These people are in such dire need of housing. However, much still needs to be done to help the american indians with healthcare, schools, etc. How many times do I need to say this: these people did not cross the border in order to receive free government help, these are our own people and the US must do more to help them in all aspects of their lives!!!

Friday March 20, 2009, 2:51 pm
Great news, hope it keeps coming. No one should lack for decent housing.

Friday March 20, 2009, 3:42 pm
All of a sudden after two hundred years Indians are getting some help. I'm glad to see it in my lifetime.

Friday March 20, 2009, 9:20 pm
Thanks for the information.

Friday March 20, 2009, 11:04 pm
So true, Leigh. They have ALWAYS been here...and yet they have always been treated as though THEY have been the foreigners....

Friday March 20, 2009, 11:27 pm
I have anther company I can add to my list for support. Of course they will have to wait a while until things get better! FLow power to power!

Saturday March 21, 2009, 10:09 am
noted

Saturday March 21, 2009, 2:11 pm
This warms my heart to hear.It has been a very,very long time coming!

Sunday March 22, 2009, 7:33 am
Noted.