Small Town News

Program turning housing units into homes

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Several housing units on Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation have undergone a relatively amazing transformation.

The problem of inadequate housing has long been a concern for the Turtle Mountain Chippewa people and their leaders. Lack of funding and an ever-growing population make the issue impossible to ignore.

One very successful program on the local reservation is behind the transformation of many housing areas into clean and pictures of a "suburbia."

The Turtle Mountain Housing Tax Credit Program is attempting to address the housing needs and is working to try to alleviate the drastic shortage and needs.

The program has been the only major contributor to home renovation and construction for tribal members in recent years. Tenants said they are appreciative of the quality of the units under the umbrella of the Tax Credit Program. A branch of the national Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the local office has turned many units into very comfortable and livable homes that once were in disrepair.

The program is also a fierce proponent of providing safe and healthy living environments, according to Turtle Mountain Housing Tax Credit Program Director Jolene LaVallie. She said she is proud of the work the program has accomplished in the time it has been operating on the reservation.

"A lot of people might think we are a little too strict, but we have some tough guidelines that are IRS-driven," said LaVallie. "We have to pass numerous inspections by different organizations, including our major investor, Raymond James Investments. We also have to pass inspections from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency and the paperwork is almost endless. When I first started working for this program, one of my mentors told me that I should not want to rent a home to anyone that I was not willing to live in myself. I can say that I would live in any unit in our program today because they are newly renovated and we monitor the safety of those units and environment. We want to keep our good tenants and the way to do that is to make sure they feel safe and comfortable. Our maintenance crew does a great job in making certain the houses are taken good care of. Our lease compliance staff is great, our own inspector Tim Hawk is very competent and we all work as a team at the tax credit program. But you know, it all comes down to having good tenants and that is a big part of our success."

A fine example of the Turtle Mountain Housing Tax Credit Program's success is the East Site which consists of a total of 24 units. Four of those are home ownership so LaVallie's program has the remaining 20 units under their program. The entire site is clean with new porches and decks on most of the units. The homes have new siding, windows and driveways. Each tax credit unit has a new shed to store lawn mowers and other tools. The units look even better on the inside as each home has undergone extensive renovation.

One tenant, Holly Delorme, is a single mother who is highly grateful for her renovated rental unit at the East Site on the outskirts of Belcourt.

"The thought I had when I walked in was that this was too good to be true," Delorme said as she carried her child in a living room that looks immaculate and new. "At my old house in another site, my baby couldn't play outside and now I can let the baby go play and I feel that I am safe here with my family. I am lucky to have this home. If I didn't feel this was a safe place, I'd be living with my mom."

The East Site also has a new playground for on the north side of the complex.

The tax credit program has a large number of units at the Eagle View site. Sixty-seven of the units there are under the program. Those units and entire complex has undergone the same great transformation as East Site, but on a larger scale.

Eagle View now has a new look to it arid LaVallie said her mission is to give a whole new image to housing sites on the reservation.

"People sometimes have negative views when a housing site is mentioned," said LaVallie. "We want to change that whole thought process and that's why I like to call these sites something different and more positive. We have a monument out in front that says 'Welcome to Eagle View Community' and that is what I would like to have people think. This is their community and they are part of it. That way, they take pride in their own community and I am seeing a new, more positive outlook from the tenants and the entire reservation about these new communities."

Florene LaFountain is very comfortable in her home at Eagle View. LaFountain has been a tenant at the Turtle Mountain Housing for many years.

"This is the best place I ever lived in since I have been in the housing program," LaFountain said. "I really can't complain about anything because they really look after my place good. It's pretty quiet and I have the best location here, I think."

LaFountain was the first tenant at Eagle View to be a recipient of the Turtle Mountain Housing Tax Credit Program and she is still grateful for the many improvements to her home.

The Willow Manor is a great place to live too, according to elder Virginia (Patnaude) Hileman. Hileman is the tenant who actually came up with the name of the retirement home complex in Belcourt. She entered a contest when the facility opened for rentals in December 2007.

"It's so well-maintained and I'm treated very well here," Hileman stated. "It's so clean and I like the fact that this is all smoke-free. I feel so safe here and I really like the peace and quiet."

LaVallie said the Willow Manor facility is constantly tested because of the high water table at the site and the tests done show the air quality is excellent. LaVallie noted that the experts who tested the air stated that the air at the Willow Manor is some of the cleanest and healthiest air they have encountered.

The program currently has eight units under its direction in Dunseith, but that number is expected to grow quickly with plans to actually build new homes through the tax credit program.

Connie Counts' home is 38 years old but inside and out looks like a new home, thanks to extensive renovation to the entire unit.

"It's a great place. I've been in this unit for about 20 years and always tried to take good care of it and now last year, the program remodeled everything. It's a nice home and like new," Counts said.

Ron Peltier, Turtle Mountain Housing Executive Director believes that the tribe's tax credit program is so successful because of a dedicated staff and that they are taking the "right steps at the right speed".

"We have five projects going right now and every one is successful. Now we hope that we'll soon have some new homes built with about 100 new units being planned for construction. I'm hoping for about 100 homes spread out over all four districts equally. Each one will have a nice yard and rival any nice suburb in any city. Our tax credit program has so many regulations, it can almost be overwhelming at times, but Jolene is doing a great job. I was with Steve Scott, the inspector from Raymond James Investors and he told me that we run the best tax credit program in Indian Country and I tend to believe that because of how hard Jolene works and the commitment she has to the job she's taken on. It's a big job and I commend her and all of her staff," Peltier said.

LaVallie is quick to point out that she has been fortunate in getting quality people for the all of the positions on the program. Carmen Peltier is a young lady who LaVallie is grooming to become the Willow Manor Retirement Home manager and is happy that is one area she will not have to be concerned with in the future.

"Carmen has a lot of potential and should be a great asset to the Willow Manor community because she really cares about the tenants comfort and safety," said LaVallie. The tax credit program director also had high praise for her lease compliance staff duo of Todd Gable and Ian Marcellais.

Gable and Marcellais said the key to their success is good communication between themselves, the tenants, maintenance, administration and the inspectors.

"When something comes up, we deal with it right away, so a minor thing doesn't become a major thing that costs a lot of money to repair," explained Ed Falcon, one of the program's two maintenance workers.

In a telephone interview with Steve Scott of Raymond James Investments, the inspector talked of his many years of working with Native American tribes. Scott is a member of the Seneca Nation in New York.

"Jolene and her staff always pass our inspections with no open issues. Turtle Mountain is always on time with their reports and right now, we are seeking more avenues to get more tax credits for your reservation," Scott indicated. "We certainly expect the same great level of professionalism we have seen from Jolene and her program for many years ahead and to continue in our partnership. I have to say I'm proud to use Turtle Mountain as a model when I travel to different areas talking about the tax credit program."

"People sometimes have negative views when a housing site is mentioned. We want to change that whole thought process..." olene LaVailie, Turtle Mountain Housing Tax Credit Program Director



Copyright 2009 Turtle Mountain Star, Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 Turtle Mountain Star Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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