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Hooghan Ba Hane’ A Navajo Housing Authority Monthly Publication January 2017 Houck housing project re - ignited On Jan. 6, members from the Navajo Housing Authority Board of Commissioners met with Houck Chapter officials to discuss the Houck Project, formerly known as Bluestone. HOUCK, Ariz. – On Jan. 6, the Navajo Housing Authority Like us on Facebook (NHA) Board of Commissioners met with Houck Chapter Officials to discuss the development of the Houck www.facebook.com/ Project which is to be located along Interstate 40, two miles east of the Houck Chapter House. NavajoHousingAuthority The Houck Project, previously known as the Bluestone Project, was placed on a brief hold two years ago in order for the eight newly appointed NHA board members to Follow us on Twitter reevaluate the project. The project had been heavily promoted and dubbed as a model for other master www.twitter.com/ planned housing developments on the Navajo Nation. “The whole reason that we are here is because there hooghanorg was a lot of misconceptions as to why the Board delayed Houck Chapter President, Lorenzo this project and there were questions concerning the Curley (Left) and Vice-President James land issues and some of those were resolved,” said NHA Find us online Watchman, Jr. (Middle) participated in Board Chairman Ervin Chavez. “Now that we know where NHA work session regarding the Houck we are, and understand the feelings of the community, www.hooghan.org we can start moving this project into phases and move Project held on Jan. 6 at the Houck In this issue: Chapter House. » CONTINUE ARTICLE ON, PG. 3 Message from the Live KTNN radio; 43 units modernized in Construction activities Ramah hold dedication AZ million dollar NHA Chairman NHA provides update Ojo Amarillo for FY2016 for 49 new homes circle of excellence » STORY, PG. 2 » STORY, PG. 4 » STORY, PG. 5 » STORY, PG. 6 & 7 » STORY, PG. 8 » STORY, PG. 10 Page 2 Housing Our Nation by Building Sustainable, Quality Homes Message from the Chairman Navajo Housing Authority Issues Statement in Response to Public Hearing In response to a directive by the Navajo Nation programs. Tribal Council, the Office of the Speaker held a public Commenters also expressed concern in the way hearing on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at the that leadership continues to attack NHA instead of Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Ariz. to supporting NHA. Commenters also wanted leadership hear from tribal members and residents whether and NHA to work together to find solutions and the Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) status pointed out that there seems to be undue influence should be taken from the NHA and transferred from outside sources (press, other interests) that to the Navajo Nation’s Community Housing and leadership is considering rather than taking an Infrastructure Department (CHID). unbiased approach to reform. Current and past residents as well as applicants NHA believes strongly that the leadership should voiced their concerns about housing services and not mistake resident concerns, regarding repairs and programs provided by NHA. NHA Board and staff were maintenance, with the original and only purpose of also in attendance at the hearing. the hearing which was to address Legislation No. NHA is committed to addressing the housing 0232-16, the transfer of NHA programs to the Navajo Ervin Chavez services and issues expressed at the hearing. In fact, Nation. Chairman we (NHA) address tenant issues and concerns on a In our view, the hearing would have been more Board of Commissioners daily basis. effective if there was a moderator to remind the Throughout the hearing, commenters expressed commenters of the purpose of the hearing. concerns regarding the ability of Nation’s Community In all, many commenters implied that the legislation Housing department to oversee the Housing Authority, was developed in haste and they were against the noting that the Nation still has no formal plan to transfer, and expressed that the Council should work take over services and programs currently provided together with NHA to solve the current issues instead by NHA and that the Nation’s history in managing of trying to overtake the agency. NHA wholeheartedly and operating federal programs is cause for concern. supports that view and hopes the Tribal Council will Further comments call attention to the department’s work with us to resolve any concerns and keep the (CHID) lack of infrastructure and ability to manage the NHA as an independently operated enterprise. NHA Board of Commissioners Ervin Chavez Asa Begaye Christina Lewis Kenneth Chester Lula Jackson Ben Johnson Kenneth Peterson Marleita Begay Chairman Vice-Chairman Secretary/Treasurer Member Member Member Member Member Eastern Agency Western Agency Fort Defiance Agency Utah Tenant/ Northern Agency Arizona Tenant/ New Mexico Chinle Agency Representative Representative Representative Homebuyer Representative Homebuyer Tenant/Homebuyer Representative 2 year term 4 year term 4 year term Representative 4 year term Representative Representative 4 year term 2015 - 2017 2016 - 2020 2015 - 2019 2 year term 2015 - 2019 3 year term 4 year term 2016 - 2020 2015 - 2017 2015 - 2018 2016 - 2020 Housing Our Nation by Building Sustainable, Quality Homes Housing Our Nation by Building Sustainable, Quality Homes Page 3 NHA Board holds work session with Houck Chapter officials to discuss housing project » CONTINUED FROM, PG. 1 forward with this at a more reasonable Watchman expressed the Houck and responsible schedule.” community’s vision for the project. “Most Navajo Nation Council Delegate chapters usually help out individual Raymond Smith attended the work families through housing discretionary,” session and was excited about the said Watchman. “For us as chapter renewed collaboration, “this is really officials and administrators we are trying exciting especially now that everyone is to create something huge and fair for on board,” said Smith. “There is a definite everybody.” need for housing here, especially with “Because the development is located the community’s plans for economic on fee land the housing will be open to development.” everyone (Navajo) and as a chapter we Houck Chapter Vice-President, James can’t control that,” Watchman added. Watchman, Jr. was also in attendance and A follow up meeting, with was pleased with the update from NHA. shareholders, is tentatively scheduled “We wanted an update on the status to take place at the end of January. of the Houck Project,” said Watchman, Additional shareholders will include; “We’re still in favor - community Arizona Department of Transportation, members were asking because we heard Navajo Dvision of Transportation, Navajo through the grapevine that it was stopped Telephone and Utility Authority and other or put on hold.” stakeholders. NHA Chief Executive Officer, Aneva Yazzie updates Houck Chapter Officials on the status of the Houck Project during a work session held on Jan. 6 at the Houck Chapter House. Navajo Nation Council passing legislation 402-16 during Winter Session WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - On the fourth to push for meeting its housing goals the day of the Navajo Nation Winter Session statement read. the Council passed, by a vote of 11-8, If signed by the President the new Legislation 402-16 sponsored by Council appointments will have to be made within Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd (Jeddito/ 120 days, according to the legislation. Cornfields/Ganado/Kinlichee/Steamboat). The current standing NHA board The intent of 402 is to reduce the members are as follows; Ervin Chavez, number of the Board of Commissioners Chairman, Eastern Agency Representative; for the Navajo Housing Authority Asa Begaye, Vice-Chairman, Western from eight to five and to increase Agency Representative; Christina Lewis, the qualifications for the board. New Secretary/Treasurer, Fort Defiance members will be required to have Agency Representative; Kenneth Chester, professional qualifications and credentials Member, Utah Tenant/Homebuyer in the housing, architecture, business, Representative; Lula Jackson, Member development and contracting. Northern Agency Representative; Ben In a prepared statement released Johnson, Member, Arizona Tenant/ after the vote, NHA states that it vows Homebuyer Representative; Kenneth to deliver a strong governance system as Peterson, Member, New Mexico Tenant/ we continue to deliver on the important Homebuyer Representative; and mission of bringing affordable housing to Marleita Begay, Member, Chinle Agency the Navajo Nation. Before this legislation Representative. becomes law, the Navajo Nation President must sign the bill. While we await the NHA Board Chairman Ervin Chavez is given an opportunity president’s decision NHA will continue to express his opinions on legislation 402-16 during a NABI called work session held on Jan. 12, at the NDOT conference room. Page 4 Housing Our Nation by Building Sustainable, Quality Homes NHA hosts LIVE radio forum on KTNN, KWRK, Facebook live WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Jan. 4, the Navajo Housing Authority hosted a LIVE radio forum which aired on KTNN (AM660) and KWRK (FM96.1) from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The program was also streamed live to NHA’s Facebook business page. Special guest panelist included, Peterson Zah, former Navajo President and Chairman; Asa Begaye, NHA Board of Commissioner Vice-Chairman; Lula Jackson, Board of Commissioner member; Aneva Yazzie NHA CEO; Roberta Roberts, NHA Government and Public Relations Director. Topics of discussions included general information on NHA, how to be a successful homeowner, and the impacts of the pending council legislation 232-16. The forum concluded with a question and answer portion where listeners were encouraged to text their questions into KTNN studios. The full live program is available and can be viewed on NHA’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ NavajoHousingAuthority. NHA Chief Executive Officer, Aneva Yazzie (left) and former Navajo Nation President/Chairman Peterson Zah at KTNN studios. Guest Column in Jan. 12, 2017 issue of the Navajo Times BY PERCY DEAL- RE-PRINT FROM NAVAJO TIMES Back in 1963 the Navajo leadership is difficult to build any project in Navajo Wednesday, Dec.