Contributed Article

On Jan. 9, 2008, the San Carlos Apache Tribe was awarded 10 unused manufactured housing units, available to tribal governments by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In the summer of 2006, the state of Arizona declared that the tribe along the Gila River and the San Carlos River was in a state of emergency after floodwaters and high wind caused by summer monsoons destroyed homes and businesses. With this obstacle, the tribe continued its efforts to seek options of housing relief. Tribal representatives met with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano in January of 2007 to discuss solutions to the tribe’s overall housing shortage. Considering that the housing needs of the tribe are approximately 1,400 units, pursuant to the San Carlos Housing Authority and the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act funding records, the recommendation of seeking the assistance of FEMA was pursued by the tribe.

The tribe inquired of numerous state officials and federal agencies on the status of the stored FEMA manufactured housing units, specifically the distribution guidelines. Shortly after inquiring with FEMA officials, the tribe responded to an invitation to comment on the allocation methodology regarding the FEMA manufactured housing units and to inspect a few units at the FEMA facility site in Hope, Ark.

As a result, the tribe was awarded transportation dollars from the Arizona Department of Housing, Governor Napolitano’s office and HUD to secure the 10 unused manufactured housing units from HUD to be transported to the San Carlos Apache Reservation. The Tribal Council will decide on the method of allocating the units and will keep the public informed.

Chairman Wendsler Nosie Sr. stated, “Even in the face of funding shortages from the federal government, I am excited that the Tribal Council, working with its departments and subcommittees, continues to look at all options when it comes to providing affordable housing to our tribal members. We will continue to search for any and all funding opportunities such as we did with FEMA to provide additional housing to our tribal members.”

“I support the efforts of the Housing Commission and the Tribal Council to meet the housing needs of the tribe,” commented Gilson Wash District Councilman Charles Stevens.

Bylas District Councilwoman Martha Interpreter-Baylish stated, “I am happy for those tribal members who will be receiving the manufactured housing units. I applaud the hard work demonstrated by the Tribal Council, the Housing Commission and our lobbyists in obtaining 10 of the manufactured housing units, even though our housing need is much greater.”