Smoke Signals April 5, 1995 Page 5
Housing
Department will set up a 20-year housing plan
The following informa
tion is Part 3 of a three
part series. This last
section of the Tribal Housing
Needs Assessment Report in
cludes a framework recom
mendation by the consultant
for developing a 20-year
Housing Plan for the Tribe.
The 20-Year Housing Plan
The Housing Department is
initiating a project to prepare
a 20-year housing plan. This
report marks the first step to
wards completion of the
housing plan. The intent of
the Tribal Housing Needs As
sessment is to provide the
baseline data for developing
the goals, objectives, actions,
and programs that will com
prise the 20-year plan.
The plan should be devel
oped in the context of the re
cently completed Strategic
Plan. The Strategic Plan sets
forth five general principles
for development for the
Grand Ronde Tribe: (1) Self
sufficiency; (2) Involvement;
(3) Fairness; (4) Efficient use
of resources; and (5) Commu
nity spirit.
These five goals provide the
broad framework for devel
opment and implementation
of all tribal policies and pro
grams. One of the themes
that was consistent through
all of the tribal input in the
Strategic Planning process
was that development should
proceed with caution. The
development of the 20-year
housing plan will allow the
Tribe to carefully consider
the goals, objectives, and pri
orities of its housing pro
gram. Further, the Public Works
Department Work Plan iden
tifies strategies and actions
with respect to tribal housing.
The overall strategy with re
spect to housing is to "pro
vide better housing."
Logically, the first step in
development of any policy or
program is to determine the
needs of the target popula
tion. These needs provide the
basis for a rational, informed
discussion of what types of
policies or programs would
be most appropriate. Table
S-3 summarizes housing
needs using various indica
tors and for various tribal
populations. No matter what
the measure, tribal housing
needs are substantial.
The next step in developing
the 20-year plan is to develop
measurable goals and objec
tives. These goals and objec
tives will define the scope and
focus of the housing program.
The goals and objectives of
the housing program deserve
considerable thought and dis
cussion. The third step is to estab
lish priorities. To a certain
extent, the goals and objec
tives of the program are the
first step in addressing priori
ties. If addressing a need is
not included as a goal or ob
jective in the plan, it can be
considered a low priority.
This step should include
mechanisms to solicit tribal
members' input. Further, it
should address what the Tribe
feels are the most important
and pressing issues and needs
with respect to housing.
The last step in the planning
process is to develop and
implement programs. Pro
grams are specific actions
that are designed to address
the goals, objectives, and pri
orities set forth in the plan.
The individual programs
Table S-3. Summary of Housing Needs
TypeV'V, :. " Measure(s)' :. ' ; Description Extent1
Financial Financial need can be Financial needs are the most Low Income:
measured several ways: evident housing needs among 55; 744 households '
(1) persons in poverty; Tribal members. Most Very Low Income:
(2) households citizens needing some form of 33; 486 households
considered low and very subsidy live in either low, very Cost Burden:
low income; and (3) low, or severely low income 46; 671 households
households that households. Poverty:
experience cost burden. 25; 875 Tribal members
Crowding Persons per room A dwelling is considered 10 of Tribal households
"over-crowded" if the experience crowding (144
household has more than one households)
person per room,
Poor Overall housing Safe, decent housing is a 10 of Tribal households live
Housing - condition; condition of basic human need. in substandard (poor
Condition specific elements; lack of Substandard housing can condition) housing (144
plumbing and other lead to a number of other households); 20 of Tribal
elements. social and health problems households (292) indicated
that some element of their
dwelling needs improvement.
Large Number of family Large families include 7 of Tribal households have
Families members households with more than six or more members (102
five members related by blood households); 70 percent of
or marriage. large families are below the
poverty level.
Households Number of households Persons with physical 4 of Tribal members have
with disabled with disabled individuals, disabilities have substantial some type of physical
individuals physical impairment(s) limiting disability (140 individuals).
one or more life activities.
Households Number of households Tribal elders have different 14 of Tribal members are
with Elders with individuals over age housing and medical needs over age 55 (490 individuals).
55 than other Tribal members.
Single-parent Households with one Single parent households 10 of Tribal households are
households parent and children include parents who live with, single parent households (144
underage 18. and provide care and households). 53 of single
supervision to a minor child parent households (76
(or children) in the absence of households) fall below the
a second parent. poverty level.
Special Number of households Includes at-risk youth; Not Available,
populations or individuals with homeless; persons released
special characteristics. from state institutions;
persons infected with
HIVAIDs; persons recovering
from substance abuse;
persons with developmental
or psychiatric disabilities; teen
, parents; and victims of
domestic violence or other
. abuse.
should be described in the
plan along with a general
timeline for their develop
ment and implementation.
Recommendations
The following recommen
dations are intend to provide
a framework for developing
goals and objectives. The
recommendations do not ad
dress specific program objec
tives or priorities; rather, they
are intended to identify ma
jor issues and considerations
as the Tribe moves forward
with the development of the
20-year plan.
The 20-year housing plan
should be developed within
the framework of the Strate
gic Plan and the Public
Works Division Work Plan.
The overall strategy is to
"provide better housing."
Specific actions to attain this
goal include to:
1. Conduct a housing needs
survey and needs assessment
study.
2. Prepare a 20-year hous
ing development plan, in
cluding an annual work pro
gram for new housing.
3. Develop and conduct a
program to educate potential
homeowners about the finan
cial aspects of
homeownership, such as
credit history, debt load, etc.
4. Establish an appropriate
con tin ued on next page