MAY 1, 2000
3
No waiting list for home repairs
Low-income homeowners can receive up to $10,000 for home repair.
By Brent Merrill
Tribal members who own their own
home can be eligible to receive a
$10,000 grant to do health and
safety repair work on their primary
residence. Homeowners must meet
income requirement guidelines and
live in the Grand Ronde Tribal Hous
ing Authority's expanded 10 county
service area.
The Tribe's six county service area
includes Polk, Yamhill, Tillamook,
Marion, Multnomah and Washing
ton counties. The Housing Author
ity has added Lincoln, Clackamas,
Linn and Benton counties the their
service area for this grant.
According to Housing Authority
Director Linda Layden, quality con
trol is the main reason for keeping
the grants located in the service area.
"It is easier to monitor the quality
of the work being done if we keep it
to ten counties," said Housing Im
provement Specialist Lonnie Leno.
Recipients may receive up to three
grants not to exceed the $10,000
limit. Mobile home owners are eligible
to receive as much as $3,000 for
health and safety related repair.
Mobile homes made after 1976 are
considered manufactured homes and
are eligible for the full $10,000 grant.
Meeting the homeowner's basic
need is the goal of the home repair
grants. The grants cover replacement
of roofing, wood damage, heating re
placement or repair, plumbing work,
electrical work, foundation replace-
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Replacing your home's foundation is an example of the type of repairs that
can be done with the Housing Authority's Home Repair Grants.
ments and weatherization.
Layden said homeowners must be
willing to stay in their homes for five
years after the grant or they must
repay the grant.
The home repair program has
changed said Housing Improvement
Specialist Lonnie Leno. Recipients
can receive $10,000 - which is down
from $20,000. .
"With the old grant we had to bring
each individual house up to a cer
tain standard before we could do any
work," explained Leno. "We had to
do everything to the house, we
couldn't just do part of the house.
Now, the way this grant is written,
we can come in and just do roofing
repairs or just do a foundation. And,
by reducing the amounts we can do
a lot more jobs for people."
"Now, we address basic needs that
are requested," said Layden.
Layden and Leno explained that
in the past, people might request a
new roof. The way the grant was
written, if the home's electrical wir
ing wasn't up to standard it would
have to be replaced as well. Some
times the applicant would have to
move out of the home while exten
sive repairs were made. Now, if
someone requests only a new roof,
the roof issue is addressed and a rec
ommendation is made to on any
other problems.
"We do an inspection and make rec
ommendations to them," said Layden.
"We let them know more help is avail
able if they need or want it."
The way the new grant is written,
the service is more personalized and
not so all encompassing.
To apply for a home repair grant,
call the housing authority office and
request an application. The applica
tion will be sent to you along with
grant guidelines and requirement
information. After the applicant's
approval is given, Leno will come out
to the home and inspect. After the
inspection is conducted, Leno will do
a cost estimate.
Leno said he keeps a list of
prequalified contractors who are
available to do the repair work. Leno
has checked references of the con
tractors and cleared them with the
state for approval. Some of the con
tractors are tribal members.
If applicants have a particular con
tractor in mind they can suggest the
name to Leno to be checked out.
Applicants will be served in order
of the date of their applications and
currently, there is no waiting list.
Elders will be given first priority.
Elder housing nears completion
By Linda Layden
The Elder housing project is starting to get
exciting, as it is nearing completion for August.
This means there is a lot of interest, and people are now going to the site and
looking around. This causes problems for the workers, as well as a concern
for the well being of those on site.
This is a construction site and it is dangerous with cement trucks, heavy
equipment, construction workers carrying large materials. It is also a con
cern to the workers that someone could get injured. Because this is a safety
concern we have posted "DANGER, DO NOT ENTER" signs at the entrance.
If anyone needs access to the site, please check with the Housing Authority
at 879-2403. If access is required, arrangements will be made. We will make
an effort to accommodate Elders or others who have a direct interest in see
ing the project. Thank you see you at the dedication in early August!
No waiting list of
Minor Medical home adaptations
The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority has had limited response to their
notice of the availability of minor medical housing adaptation grants.
Tribal members, or members of their household with physical challenges, are
eligible to receive home remodeling to allow easier access into and within their
homes. Wheel chair access ramps, toilet supports, shower to tub conversions,
hand-held shower faucets and grab bars are just some of the home improve
ments available through the Tribe's Housing Authority.
According to Housing Authority Director Linda Layden, there is no waiting list to
receive these services. For more information, please call Lonnie Leno at 879
2405 or 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2405.
Tribe looks to Water Association for approval of new housing units
By Brent Merrill
The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing
Authority recently approached the
Grand Ronde Community Water As
sociation board for new hook-up ap
proval for a planned 32-unit hous
ing project. The new housing site is
located across from the Tribe's cur
rent Elder housing project site.
The new project is part of the
Tribe's overall effort to provide hous
ing for tribal members. The first step
in the process is gaining approval for
water from the Water Association.
Capitol Projects Manager John
Mercier informed the Water Associa
tion board of the Housing
Authority's interest in obtaining the
new hook-ups at their regular meet
ing on Thursday, April 13.
"Our next project is a 32-unit sub
division for family units in Grand
Ronde," said Mercier. "We're hoping
to move forward with the infrastruc
ture construction this fall. What
we're asking is that before we invest
significant dollars into engineering on
how to provide water, we're asking
for approval of 32 hookups condi
tional upon your requirements."
Members of the board listened to
the Housing Authority's request and
although they didn't issue a denial,
the board indicated approval would
be dependent on meeting their re
quirements. "What we hoped to get is an indi
cation from them as to whether or
not they were receptive to giving us
an approval," said Housing Author
ity Director Linda Layden. "They
didn't disapprove it, they said put an
application in. So, that is encourag
ing. We hope to work with the Wa
ter Association to try to accomplish
our goals in regards to providing
housing for tribal members."
The Housing Authority has shared
their plans for 200-300 homes in the
future with the Water Association
several times. The first three phases
of housing construction include 106
units.
Phase one was the 38-unit Elder
housing complex. Phase two is the
current plan for 32 single-family
units and phase three is an addi
tional 36 units.
Phase one is nearly finished and
on track for an August completion
date. Phase two is in the design pro
cess and the Housing Authority
would like to begin construction later
this year. Phase three is scheduled
to be designed in 2002 and construc
tion, if approved, would begin in late
2002 or early 2003.
Currently, the Water Association
reports overall system usage at just
over 200 gallons of water per minute
and that doubles to 400 gallons per
minute in the summer months.
The Water Association is currently
doing repair work on existing water
lines and working on doubling their
capacity to provide water for local
needs. The Water Association is also
working on tapping into new water
sources.
Tribal members Ken Schmid and
Dennis Zimbrick are on the board.