I R H A

Newsletter of the Interior Regional Housing Authority

Safe Housing for Tribes through the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act

Vol. III, Issue 3Vol. III, Issue 3Vol. III, Issue 3Vol. III, Issue 3Vol. III, Issue 3

I R H A Board of

Commissioners

Serving the Native People of the Doyon Region, Alaska July 2006July 2006July 2006July 2006July 2006

Be smart, stay safe: Inspect extension cords;

replace those that are damaged

Patrick McCarty, Chair

Ruby, Tel: 907-468-4407

Woodie Salmon, Vice-chair

Chalkyitsik, Tel: 907-662-2563

Paul Williams, Sr., Sec/Treasurer

Beaver, Tel: 907-628-6213

Henry Deacon

Grayling, Tel: 907-453-5128

Teisha Simmons

Fairbanks, Tel: 907-479-5144

Building houses in rural Alaska; building skills, community and spirit

Before the Yukon opened, house-building crews in Ruby were at work. From this site overlooking the river, the crewlifts the first wall into place. Using pre-assembled panels that contain insulation, the floor and walls go up quickly.

Beaver - 13 rehab projects

(continued from 2005)

Fairbanks - 11 rehab projects;

2 new construction

Kaltag - 5 new homes

Minto - 42 boiler rehabs;

1 new construction

Nikolai - 1 repair project

Northway - 6 new homes

Ruby - 5 new homes

Tok - 4 rehab projects

Tokotna - 1 Self-Help project

Construction underway in 2006

Planning and Capital

Improvement Projects

There are 28 Tribes that have designatedIRHA as their TDHE. This number has steadilyincreased in the last couple of years. Circle,Alatna, Stevens Village and Anvik have joinedIRHA in 2006.

The executive director, his deputy and thehead of the planning department traveled to thevillages to meet with the councils to identifyand plan for their projects. We met with tribalcouncils in Alatna, Allakaket, Circle and North-

Staff reports to the Board of Commissioners

way about their needs and upcoming projects.After consulting with these councils we

identified the work that needs to be completed.This allows the time we need to plan for theprojects and that includes ordering the materi-als. In Alatna, for example, IRHA will ordermaterials this fall, fly them to Allakaket inMarch, then haul them to Alatna while the riveris still frozen.

We are currently working on Title VIprojects for Northway, Tetlin and Eagle. In2007, we are planning Title VI projects in HolyCross, Stevens Village, Circle, Evansville andAlatna.

Some projects are slow getting started thisyear because of late barges. Yutana is running

IRHA’s staff is obligated to present to the Boardof Commisioners reports from respective depart-ments that detail the status of planning, currentprojects, finances. The Board of Commission-ers reviewed these reports at its recent meeting.

Staff Report to BOC

Continued on Page 2

Page 1

I R H A

The Interior Regional Housing Authority is the

Tribally Designated Housing Entity of the tribes

of the Doyon region. It works in partnership with

the tribes that have, by certification and reso-

lution, agreed to be part of the Indian Housing

Plan. It is legally constituted under the Native

American Housing Assistance and Self-Deter-

mination Act of 1996 to promote safe housing

and self-sufficiency.

Interior Regional Housing Authority

828 27th Avenue

Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

Tel: 907/452-8315 or 1-800-478-4742

Fax: 907/456-8941

E-mail: housing@irha.org

Steve Ginnis, Executive Director

Angela Ludwick, Grant Writer, Executive Asst.

Eli James, Financial Officer

Peter Williams, Deputy Director

Charlisa Attla, Tribal Planning Director

Michelle Michel, Human Resource Director

Robin Johnson, Housing Manager

Carl Hoffman, Construction Superintendent

Bill Duquette, Warehouse Manager

I R H A

behind and is further delayed due to smoke andproblems on the river related to wildfires. Weare a little concerned that low water might keepbarges from some of our sites. Right now weare at the mercy of Mother Nature. Hopefully,we can get materials to the villages so theseprojects can get underway.

Housing Department

Eleven homes were conveyed this year.Nenana’s Meda Lord and Tok’s 6-plex is

fully occupied.Currently, 70 families are receiving rental

assistance vouchers.Delinquent accounts total approximately

$215,000. The Housing department is workingon collections and has been receiving payments.

R-HOPE (elder homeownership program)paperwork has been signed and this couple isnow living in their new home. We will also usethis program for elders in Minto.

Finance

The 2005 audits are complete. There wereno significant findings.

Title VI loans have been secured for Minto,Kaltag and Ruby. Title VI loans for Northway,Tetlin and Eagle are still being processed.

As of May 31, 2006, IRHA expended ap-proximately $6.5 million in funds.

Staff Report to BOC

Continued from Page 1Warming shelter at Kaltag project keeps crew productive

Making the most of the season means being prepared for frosty mornings. IRHA’s foremen know that to keep theproject moving crews need a place to warm up, have a bite to eat or get out of the bugs.

Tribal Partner Activity ReportAlatna

Charlisa Attla, planning department direc-tor, Pete Williams, deputy director, and KatieCharlie, planning assistant, traveled to Allakaketand met with the Alatna Tribal Council on June5, 2006. Alatna would like to use the Title VIloan program to leverage their funding and buildpossibly two new homes in Alatna next year.They already have two sites identified and Katiehas started the environmental review (ER) andsite control process.

Allakaket

While we were in Allakaket we also metwith the Allakaket Council to review last year’snew construction expenditures. The Tribeseemed very happy with their project last year.They will leave funds in their NAHASDA bal-ance to re-level homes this fall and pay-off aportion of their Title VI loan. The Tribe alsobrought up the need to insulate the floors onthe rest of the 13 CAS homes.

Anvik

Anvik will be designating IRHA as theirTDHE for 2006. Currently, IRHA continues towork with Anvik toward developing a plan thatmeets their community’s needs.

Tribal Partners

See Page 3

“Home - that blessed word, which

opens to the human heart the most

perfect glimpse of Heaven, and helps

to carry it thither, as on an angel’s

wings.”

AAHA Fire Safety poster

winners announcedThe Alaska Association of Housing Au-

thorities selected the winning entries. Finaljudging for the national award will happen inOctober at AMERIND’s annual convention.Congratulations to the winners in our region andthose who submitted entries. Everybody winswith fire safety.

Page 2

Lydia M. Child (1802-1880)

U.S. abolitionist

Grade K-3First Place Anna PrenticeSecond Place Carolyn BerlinThird Place Katie Ahkpuk

Grade 4-6First Place Evelyn Tanape MintoSecond Place Christian Sommer TananaThird Place Dorian Paul Frank Tanacross

Grade 7-8First Place Lacey Isaac TanacrossSecond Place DeAnne LincolnThird Place Lyle A. McGinty Kaltag

I R H A

Beaver

Beaver is in the third year of rehabbinghomes in preparation for the Village SafeWater’s water/sewer project. This year IRHAis finishing 13 rehabs and starting three more.

Birch Creek

HUD has recently approved the BirchCreek Community Center as a model activityin the 2003-2006 Indian Housing Plans. Thiswill be a simple 36 X 40 log structure with norunning water. IRHA will contract with theTribe to mill the logs and prepare the pad thisyear, with actual construction beginning in 2007.

Circle

IRHA staff traveled to Circle and met withits council on May 4, 2006 to discuss new fam-ily housing. It was agreed that IRHA woulddelay construction until next year when morefunding is available. In the meantime, the fam-ily will decide on a site and let IRHA knowbefore the end of summer. Circle will use TitleVI to leverage their funding for this project.

Dot Lake

IRHA entered a sub-recipient agreementwith Dot Lake in the amount of $35,000 to re-hab three homes in 2006. To date, Dot Lakehas drawn down 50 percent of its funding.

Eagle

Eagle has obligated its funding, includinga Title VI loan, towards the construction of acommunity center. Construction is contingentupon: (1) the tribe receiving additional fund-ing from the state, (2) the tribe completes sitework which includes temporary road, driveway,parking lot, building pad and clearing for theseptic system, and (3) IRHA obtaining the TitleVI loan. Site control is not needed since thebuilding will be owned and operated by thetribe. The ER will be complete when the de-signs for the septic system are completed andthe wetlands permit is issued. Steve Graham,project foreman, is coordinating with Eagle andKris Richardson, mechanical administrator, todo a site visit and mark the building pad andseptic so road and site work can begin. SteveMinnema, electrical administrator, is pursuing aquote from AP&T for the electrical extension.

Evansville/Bettles

The Tribe has chosen to use its fundingand the Title VI loan program to build one newhouse in 2007. At this time, there is a substan-tial gap between what’s available andEvansville’s costs. The tribe is aware of this and willpursue additional funding through other sources.

Fairbanks

IRHA is rehabbing 11 homes, providing

materials for two Self-Help projects and build-ing one new home in Fairbanks this year. Therehabs and self projects are underway and thenew construction project is complete. We alsohave several emergency rehab projects. Bothhave budgets under $5,000, the maximum fund-ing available under the emergency assistanceprogram.

Grayling

Grayling obligated its 2006 funding to-wards rehab. Although IRHA advertised for ap-plications there were not enough responses intime to plan a rehab project in 2006. Theseprojects will be scheduled in the 2007 season.

Holy Cross

Holy Cross has obligated a portion of its2006 funding towards the rehab of six homesthis year and one Self-Help project. After the2006 rehab projects are complete, the Tribeplans to use the remaining funding, along withtheir 2007 funds and a Title VI loan, to buildtwo new homes in 2007.

Hughes

The Hughes Council has applied for anICDBG Imminent Threat Grant to rehab eighthomes and relocate four. If approved, 2006IHBG funds will supplement this project. Also,one AFHC rehab project is completed.

Tribal Partners

Continued from Page 2

Tribal Partners

Continued on Page 4

Deputy directer, Pete Williams, second from left, chats with members ofthe crew in Kaltag.

A successful wall raising requires planning and teamwork. Everybody stayssafe.

IRHA homes are built on laminated beams up to thirty feet long. They ride ona foundation system that can be leveled to account for frost heaves.

Page 3

IRHA has a limited amount of fire safety

supplies. Be prepared in case of emer-

gency.

We have fire extinguishers, fire alarms,

9-volt batteries and educational mate-

rial for every member of the family.

Check your supply, and if you need

items, please contact Katie Charlie,

Planning Assistant at ext. 121.

Fire Safety Equipment

for Homeowners

I R H A

Huslia

In Huslia, we are working on 18 site con-trol issues. Charlisa Attla met with the corpora-tion on June 10, 2006 to discuss what needs tobe done. IRHA is working with the Huslia Tra-ditional Council, the corporation, and allhomeowners to resolve these issues. We antici-pate completing these tasks by the end of thesummer. We’re also finishing three AHFCprojects in the village this year.

Kaltag

IRHA is building five new homes inKaltag. The ER is complete; homeowners havebeen identified; site control is complete; and theTitle VI loan has been approved. Constructionbegins as soon as the barge arrives.

Koyukuk

The village obligated its 2006 funding to-wards rehab and new housing (Self-Help). In2006, IRHA will be finishing two rehabs startedlast year. We will continue planning for moreSelf-Help projects in 2007.

Manley

Manley’s funding is going towards train-ing, building an addition to one home and work-ing with Self-Help applicants.

McGrath

There are four rehab projects in McGraththis year. Steve Graham is the supervisor and isalso working in Telida, Nikolai and Takotna.Next year the Tribe plans to continue servingrehab applicants.

Minto

IRHA completed 42 boiler rehabs in Mintothis year. We have three more to finish later thisfall; we’ll apply the remaining balance to theTitle VI loan. The Tribe has also approved someof its funding (including AHFC, DOYON,TCC) to build a new home for two elders. Thisproject is underway and is expected to be com-plete by October 2006. We are also transfer-ring two homes to the Minto Traditional Coun-cil. A rental policy has been drafted and approved,allowing the transfer to proceed.

Nenana

Nenana obligated its funding for a teencenter. The project is being administered at alocal level; IRHA will be notified when fund-ing is needed. The building will be owned andmanaged by the Nenana Tribal Council, there-fore site control is not needed.

Nikolai

Last year, IRHA rehabbed 10 CAS homefoundations in the first of two phases. This yearthe Tribe obligated their funding for comple-tion of phase II. During this work, the projectmanager discovered several problems not in theinitial assessment. Most are minor and the tribeagreed to approve a budget amendment to coverthem. We’ll fix the first house this year and de-velop a plan for the remaining nine next year.

Northway

Charlisa Attla and Pete Williams met withthe council to discuss new family housing.Currently, construction is underway with sixnew homes that were approved by the North-

way Traditional Council. These homes are be-ing financed through Title VI loans. IRHA ex-pects to complete this work by October 2006.

Ruby

IRHA is currently building five new homesin Ruby. The ER is complete and we have sitecontrol complete for three of the homes, theother two are in process. We closed on the TitleVI loan last month.

Shageluk

Shageluk is using Title VI funding for onerehab and the construction of small home.

Stevens Village

Tribal funding and a Title VI loan will beused to build two new homes next year. Thisyear we will identify homeowners, obtain sitecontrol and complete environmental reviews.

Takotna

The Tribe approved materials for one Self-Help new construction project. Materials are onthe way.

Telida

Telida obligated its funds towards rehab-bing the old clinic for an elderly couple whocurrently reside in a dilapidated structure .

Tetlin

The Tribe put their funding and Title VIloan towards rehabbing 17 homes. Phase I wasstarted earlier this year; phase II will start assoon as we close on the Title VI loan.

Tok

Tok obligated their funds for four rehabprojects. The project is underway.

Checking the site level on this Northway project is one of the early and critical tasks in insuring that the project gets off to a good start. IRHA works to make sure that its sites aredeveloped so that snow melt and rain drains away from the foundation. This helps avoid future problems with standing water and erosion control.

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