NHA HOUSING FAIR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOUSING, FINANCING, HOME REMODELING - 08-21-24
FT. DEFIANCE—NHA is hosting a housing fair on August 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ft. Defiance Chapter House.
“Establishing Partnership for Future Housing” is the theme, and NHA encourages public participation.
Lisa Tsosie, housing technician for the Ft. Defiance Housing Management Office, said the inaugural housing fair is part of the annual planning process as a housing services activity.
“I came up with this idea of establishing a partnership for future housing with other housing providers throughout the reservation,” she said.
The housing fair is a chance to establish connections with other housing providers while simultaneously providing clients with a chance to network and meet other potential homebuyers and public rental tenants.
Tsosie said the event will also give attendees the opportunity to meet with tribal programs providing additional opportunities such as remodeling services, infrastructure development, and weatherization for homes.
“The other area is financing that is available from entities such as Native Partnership for Housing,” she said. “It’s a chance to learn about the mortgage financing that they have available and training such as homebuyer’s education and credit counseling.”
The coordinators are anticipating 200 to 250 people to participate in the housing fair.
There will be information booths, panel discussions, resources on NTUA and IHS infrastructure development processes, home purchase options, scattered site housing data, home remodeling, and financing options for homeownership.
“We will also have refreshments and door prizes,” Tsosie said.
The Navajo Land Department will also provide information on the homesite lease process for families, she said, adding that the Ft. Defiance HMO would like to make the housing fair an annual event.
The Ft. Defiance HMO oversees 404 public rental units and 18 scattered site home ownership units, according to housing specialist Rosita Willie.
“We had 27 scattered site units, but some families paid off their homes and now we have about 18 remaining,” Willie said.
Willie is also overseeing another initiative from the housing management office – the NHA Men’s Conference – which is slated for August 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Navajo Nation Museum. “Take Your Position” is the theme.
She said 65 male tenants will be participating in the event.
“The purpose of this training is to educate the male tenants about father, uncle, and brother roles in the home,” she said. “There is also training about health and wellness.”
The confab will feature traditional fatherhood teaching and presentations from the Navajo Peacemaking Program, plus employment and continuing education from the Navajo Nation Department for Self-Reliance. The Navajo Nation Department of Special Diabetes will also be presenting.
Fellow housing specialist Nancy Begay is coordinating the NHA Women’s Conference on August 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Navajo Nation Museum.
The women’s confab will feature hour-long presentations from the Department of Family Services, Native Youth Builders Coalition, Capacity Builders, Inc., Navajo Nation Workforce Development, Navajo Nation Department of Special Diabetes, and Navajo Nation Department of Behavioral Mental Health Services.
Miss Northern Navajo, Aariyana Austin, will provide entertainment during lunch.
“I am a middle person, a mediator between NHA and tenants,” Begay said. “I am advocating on behalf of my tenants.”
She said the conference is about networking and building relations with other local resource providers within the community.
“I know many of our families have limited access for help in their personal lives as they deal with personal struggles,” she said. “I invited presenters in professional fields to expand their expertise in the areas of difficult thoughts and emotions, self-care, hardship, and parenting.”
Willam B. Scott, property manager, said the housing fair and confabs are part of the tactical plan that management developed at the beginning of the year in accordance with the NHA strategic plan.
“One portion of the strategic plan was to increase partnerships in the community and that’s one of the reasons why we’re hosting the housing fair,” he said.
Scott said important tribal processes such as the chapter grazing committee authority to issue homesite leases will be important components of the housing fair, including information on public rental units, homeownership, and tenant-based housing assistance.
“Tenant-based housing assistance is similar to the Section 8 Program, the voucher program,” he said. “In fact, they use the voucher program criteria to establish eligibility.”
As a property manager, Scott monitors programs under the Ft. Defiance HMO from the application process to occupancy once the office determines that an applicant is eligible for housing.
Once housed, the tenants go through occupancy standards, occupancy requirements, and compliance with the public rental policy. Included with this effort is reviewing the lease, determining income eligibility, and annual recertifications.
“Housing specialists conduct those areas, and I basically evaluate and make sure that everything is in accordance with the regulations and our policies,” he said.
When prospective tenants apply for housing, the process can be as quick as 10 days for occupancy to as long as one year, depending on housing vacancies.
For the Ft. Defiance HMO, there are three vacancies, but two of the housing units are undergoing extensive renovations.
“We only have one vacancy if you really look at it and that’s going to be available for occupancy within 31 days,” he said.
Scott encourages people to attend the housing fair to get information on other housing providers such as Ft. Defiance Housing Corporation, Native Partnership for Housing, Navajo Nation Credit Services, and housing programs for the school district and hospital.
“It’s not just for low-income residents, it’s for everybody,” he said.
Information: www.navajohousingauthority.org
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