Tribal Housing Authority seeking grandfamily tenants

The Tribal Housing Authority will start accepting applications for three three-bedroom, low-income grandfamily housing units starting on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Rental rates will be income-based, said Shonn Leno, acting executive director of the Tribal Housing Authority. Fees will range from zero, for families without taxable income, up to 20 percent of a low-income family's income.

These are the first units in Grand Ronde built specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren. It brings the Tribe up to speed with a national Native American trend that responds to the great number of Native grandparents raising grandchildren.

"We're now addressing that need," Leno said.

Each of the units has two bathrooms. A play structure in the back of the three units is visible from inside the homes.

All units in the development are taking advantage of solar power. Although not every unit has solar panels on the roof, a parking structure roof nearby has extra so that all 23 units benefit from low-cost energy.

In addition, the grandfamily units have been built on the west end of the new development so that children do not disrupt other Elders in the community, Leno said.

The grandfamily units require at least one Elder and one grandchild, but families with as many as six or seven will be allowed, Leno said.

Federal housing regulations also require that children five years apart have their own bedrooms, though same gender children may share a bedroom.

Applicants who are eligible - meaning they have turned in a completed application, fit the definition of low income, meet the definition of grandfamily and pass the background screening - will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, said Leno.

A grandfamily is defined as a family whose head or spouse is a Tribal Elder, whose family includes minor children in legal long-term custody or the guardianship of the Elder, and may not include any other adults under the age of 55, including the parent(s) of the minor children.

The new units are part of Ilip Tilixam, the existing Elder housing development that also includes 20 other two-bed, one-bath homes. Each of those has been assigned, Leno said, though orientation and the move-in process have not yet been completed for many.

Elder housing now consists of 58 low-income Elder units and three low-income grandfamily units. 

No further Elder units are being considered by the Tribe at this time, Leno said, but additional family housing is being considered.

For more information, contact Deborah Kroeker or Leon Ramos at the Tribal Housing Authority at 503-879-2401.