The Round Valley Indian Housing Authority (RVIHA) has been awarded $8.77 million through the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2023 Homekey Tribal Program to advance Phase 5 of the Tribal Winds housing development in Covelo, Mendocino County.
The project will include the construction of 18 new permanent supportive rental housing units on a 9.6-acre parcel adjacent to previously completed Tribal Winds homes. The single-family units, consisting of two- and three-bedroom homes, will be offered to eligible tribal members, with priority given to those on the RVIHA housing waitlist.
The Homekey Tribal Program aims to address barriers to affordable housing within tribal communities, with a focus on reducing homelessness or the risk of homelessness. Members of the Round Valley Indian Tribes (RVIT) face significant housing shortages, with many enduring substandard living conditions. The funding for Tribal Winds Phase 5 represents a major step toward alleviating these challenges. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.
“This funding is a significant step forward for Tribal Winds and the RVIT community,” said Lewis Whipple, Executive Director of the RVIHA. “We all know how significant the need for affordable housing is in Round Valley, and we’re thrilled to partner with HCD to secure these funds and create 18 new homes for the Tribal community.”
The RVIHA, established in 1975 as the Tribally Designated Housing Entity of the RVIT, has long been committed to providing safe and sanitary housing for low-income tribal members. It currently owns and manages multiple residential and commercial properties and is the recipient of the annual Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act Indian Housing Block Grant.
The Tribal Winds development has already garnered millions of dollars in grants through state-level programs, furthering RVIHA’s mission to improve the quality of life for vulnerable tribal members and create sustainable, affordable housing opportunities.
They need to purchase land or build houses in Ukiah for the tribal members who don’t want to live in Covelo!
Wondering why the cost for those 18 homes is pushing 1/2 million dollars each, assuming it’s tribal land so no cost there.
Material and labor costs.
20yrs ago the average, run of the mill, built to code home was $200 per square foot in Mendocino County. That includes Design, Engineering, Permitting, Septic, Water & Electrical hookups (or well, less than 250′ deep, no tanks), minimum work to meet Calfire clearing/landscape regs, Building, Major Appliances, & very basic Landscaping.
NO to deep wells or complex site sourced water systems, retaining walls, major grading, complex geo-technical foundations, major drainage works, or long driveways.
Today, anyone MUST be very astute (and consider themselves lucky) to pull that off for anywhere near $400/sq ft.
If an Owner builds it themself and gets screaming deals on materials they may bring that price down significantly, but it takes extraordinary skill, planning, tenacity, and patience.
Hopefully the tribe can hire very local skilled labor to avoid significant drivetime and fuel costs.
I’ve been living here since the early 2000s and still do I’ve had issues with my house because of how old it is I’m a tribal member. I want a new house !!!!!