Smoke Signals
Sheridan Resident "Welcomed" Into Tribal Housing Authority
Loyal Hamilton is the new Housing Improvement Specialist.
10 APRIL 1,2006
By Toby McClary
Housing Improvement Specialist
Loyal Hamilton is helping make
Tribal homes more efficient. Ham
ilton is the newest employee at
the Tribal Housing Authority but
explains that he has been made to
feel at home.
"I worked with this department a
lot when I was a contractor," said
Hamilton, "so I knew they were a
great bunch of people. They have
made me feel very welcome."
As a contractor, Hamilton has
done many things for the Tribal
Housing Department. In the past,
he did the maintenance for Elder
housing working a lot with Tribal
member and Housing Maintenance
Coordinator Lonnie Leno. He has
also done some of the construction
for the newest Tribal housing proj
ect which should be completed near
the end of 2006.
Hamilton received his contractor's
license in 1997 and has traveled
all around the state for work. He
said that he wanted a job "a little
more stable and closer to home,
something permanent." Hamilton
found an area that he could share
his expertise and job knowledge
and has made himself comfortable
working for the Tribe.
Hamilton is in charge of the
home improvement grants given
by the Tribe. After being pre-approved
for the home improvement
grant, Tribal members can receive
up to $10,000 for home repairs.
It is Hamilton's responsibility to
oversee all that is involved. After
approval, Hamilton receives the
customer's file and visits the home
in order to write up the job speci
fications. He stated that he will
usually counsel the home owner on
long-term and short-term effects of
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Loyal Hamilton
the repairs and try to find the best
fit for the specific job. Hamilton
then writes all the paperwork for
the grant and receives three bids
from outside contractors. He and
the home owner will then pick who
they feel is best suited for the job
based on experience, reputation
and expense.
Hamilton moved to Sheridan in
1983 and graduated from Sheridan
Baptist High School. He married
his wife Kristy in 1987 and they
currently live in Willamina with
their three daughters Janelle, 12,
Morgan, 9, and Karli, 6.
Based on his positive attitude and
the kind words he has said about
all of his peers and the families he
has worked with, Loyal Hamilton
seems happy about becoming a per
manent fixture at Grand Ronde's
Housing Department.
"I work really well with people,"
said Hamilton. "With my knowl
edge of remodeling and construc
tion, I am here to help in making
local homes more efficient." B
Local Livestock Farmer Will Help Tribal Families With Housing Needs
Deborah Kroeker is thew Housing Services Specialist.
By Toby McClary
Self sufficiency for Tribal families
is something that Deborah Kroek
er is striving to achieve. Kroeker
is the Housing Services Specialist
for the Grand Ronde Tribal Hous
ing Authority (GRTHA) and has
been working with Tribal families
since October of 2005. But her
experience in the field goes back
much further.
Kroeker has 22 years of experi
ence working in social and housing
related service agencies. For the
last eight years, she was working
as the Family Self Sufficiency
Coordinator for the West Valley
Housing Authority providing her
experience and knowledge to vari
ous housing programs. Prior to
that, Kroeker worked for the Dal
las Retirement Village as a social
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Deborah Kroeker
worker for six years.
Kroeker explained that her
main objective is to work with
Tribal families and promote self
determination through home
ownership trainings, financial
literacy and related educational
and referral networks. Kroeker
seems to be enjoying her position
here at the Tribe.
"This job has been a lot of fun,"
said Kroeker. "I like working with
the families and helping folks with
their self sufficiency."
Kroeker grew up in Bakersfield,
California and spent five years
working for the Grand Canyon
right out of high school. She then
enrolled into California State Uni
versity of Bakersfield where she
earned a bachelor's degree in sociol
ogy. Right out of college, she was
hired as the Intake Coordinator
for Greater Bakersfield Legal As
sistance. Kroeker then married her hus
band Dennis and decided to move
to Oregon where she found a job
at MarionPolk Legal Aide. She
worked there for a year before en
tering the world of housing.
Some of Kroeker's goals while
working for GRTHA include host
ing financial skills trainings (which1
began in February), teaching home
buying classes beginning in April
and helping local families with
credit counseling.
"I love working here," said Kroek
er. "I enjoy meeting all the folks."
Kroeker and her husband are
currently living on a farm in Wil
lamina where the raise hormone
free beef, pork and lamb. They
run their own business titled DK
Farms and sell locker meat, retail
it by the piece and hydroponic
produce as well. D
New Procurement Manager
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Professional Shopper Larry Leith, former Tribal Housing Authority Rental
Housing Coordinator, is the Tribe's new Procurement Manager. He started on
February 1 5. The Procurement Office where he works on Grand Ronde Road is the
old Housing Authority Office.
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Learning Curve
Grand Ronde Tribal
member Carmen
Pearsall teaches Tribal
and community
members financial skills
in this February session
here in Grand Ronde.
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