Fort Hall Housing Authority home development update
Backhoe Operator Lloyd Yupe and apprentices Jeffrey Nappo and Linda Rodriguez surveying and leveling the ground for foundation placement.
FORT HALL — The Fort Hall Housing Authority (FHHA) has been diligently working to develop more housing for the Shoshone-Bannock membership that applied for the homeownership program.
The recent project involved 20 homes that were developed in two phases on scattered sites within the boundaries of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation said DeRena Tuell, FHHA Housing Development specialist.
In the 20-unit project, families were given a choice between a manufactured home and a conventionally built home. Fourteen families selected manufactured homes, and six chose a conventionally built home. Phase I had nine units that were completed at the end of 2023. Phase II consisted of 11 manufactured homes that were on a fast-track development. Manufactured units were ordered in May 2024, and all homes were delivered by September.
Housing’s Construction Division employs tribal member carpenters and apprentices approved under TERO’s Bureau of Apprentice Program. The Construction Division completed all foundations, excavation, water, sewer, and other required site work. The success of the program was contributed to Clint Williams, former Construction Manager, and DeRena Tuell, Housing Development Specialist according to FHHA Administrative Manager Taryn Shoyo. During the six months, Williams and Tuell collaborated with homebuyers, manufactured dealer, well driller, Idaho Power Engineering, IHS Engineering, Water Resources, Land Use Commissioners, Building Official, and BIA Realty staff in meeting critical deadlines.
Financing to build these 20 units was from leveraged funding. The concept behind leveraged funding is to use several funding sources to build a home, and only the loan portion of the build must be repaid Tuell said. It makes the mortgage affordable for a low-income family. Building under Phase I had three sources of funding, two HUD grants and a Loan from Chickasaw Bank guaranteed by HUD’s Title VI Program for the dwelling structure.
She explained the development under Phase II had two HUD Funds, except for the loan from Chickasaw Bank. Early in 2024, the Fort Hall Business Council had to approve an amendment to the loan documents, and the FHBC did not agree to waive the limited sovereign immunity and a couple of other requirements, so Councilman (at the time) Gaylen Edmo advocated for housing to develop a revolving loan program to finish the project using Tribal funds. Once the revolving loan program policy and agreement had attorney review, the Tribal Council funded $2 million to complete the project and set up a revolving loan for future mortgages under the FHHA. Future loans from the revolving loan program are not required to meet low-income housing requirements.
Tuell said the next new construction project currently underway is to build 30 single-family units. The first phase is to build 15 rental units on the Fort Hall Townsite in two areas: five units on “B” Ave and ten units across the road, called Sagebrush Subdivision. Homesites are limited, so the housing department decided to revitalize some Townsite areas close to the existing infrastructure. The Housing Authority is already working on the five units on “B” Street.
The Housing Construction Division will start on 15 homeownership units as soon as the rental units are completed. Jeffery Broncho is the new Construction Manager. The 30 units are funded from HUD’s competitive Indian Housing Block Grant. Lorraine Shay, Executive Director, wrote the competitive HUD Grant Application proposal and in 2023, the Housing Authority was awarded $7 million.
The Housing Board of Commissioners oversees the project: Dustin Davis, Chairman; Wesley Edmo, Vice-Chairman; Sheree Broncho, Secretary; Velma Arriwite, Member; Valda Evening-Smith, Member. Wesley Edmo is no longer on the board and a seat is vacant for the Housing Board of Commissioners until filled.
