General Council briefed on Housing Authority

General Council received a briefing on the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority at the Sunday, Dec. 7, meeting held in the Community Center.

The Housing Authority’s mission, said a PowerPoint presentation, is to “ensure that each Tribal member has the opportunity to reside in housing that is affordable, provides a safe and healthy living environment, and promotes self-sufficiency, Tribal pride and spirit.”

Housing Authority Executive Director Brian DeMarco introduced GRTHA Board members Linda Hale, Dakota Whitecloud, Kristy DeLoe and Steve Bobb Sr., and thanked Tribal Council member Toby McClary and Assistant General Manager Stacia Martin for their work with the board.

Current Tribal housing includes 61 apartments in Elder housing; 108 family apartments, which includes 36 market rate and 72 low-income residences; and a 20-unit low-income apartment complex set to open in March.

Administrative Program Manager Joani Dugger reviewed the assistance programs administered by the Housing Authority, which include Down Payment Assistance grants, Medical Adaptation grants, Home Repair grants, Indian Health Service Water and Sanitation funding, Tenant Based Rental Assistance and Student Rental Assistance.

Dugger said the Student Rental Assistance program is the largest that the Housing Authority administers, helping more than 450 Tribal students since 2006 in paying for living quarters while attending school.

Rental Housing Coordinator Leon Ramos reviewed the Housing Authority’s “wait list.” He said that delays occur because tenants are tardy in turning in their keys and staff cannot enter a unit until it is cleared. Staff must then conduct a meth test and determine the work that needs to be done to make a unit habitable for the next tenant.

According to the PowerPoint, if an apartment tests positive for meth, “all bets are off” since a contractor must be contacted to clean up the unit, which can take up to a month to accomplish.

Rental Housing Coordinator Shonn Leno discussed the Housing Authority’s work order process, which prioritizes requests based on safety issues.

Leno also discussed the Housing Authority’s pet policy, which does not allow pit bulls, German shepherds, wolf mixes, Dobermans and Rottweilers. He said the Housing Authority is changing how it charges for pets, moving from a pet deposit to a monthly fee for anything from a goldfish to a dog.

“It is so hard to identify what caused the damage,” Leno said, “that we eliminated that and said basically if you have a pet, if you can afford to have a pet, you will pay rent for that pet.”

Housing Services Coordinator Deborah Kroeker reviewed current concerns, such as people living temporarily in Tribal housing who have not been screened for criminal histories and have not been determined to be eligible to live in Tribal housing.

“We want to make sure that the person who is living next door to your grandkids is safe for your grandkids to be around. That’s the bottom line,” she said.

Kroeker also discussed the drug policy, which includes marijuana still being illegal on Tribal lands and in housing despite passage by Oregon voters of recreational marijuana use in November. The new state law takes effect in July.

“Tenants who refuse to cease marijuana use and are caught will be asked to find other accommodations,” the PowerPoint stated.

Elder Steve Bobb Sr., who serves on the Housing Authority Board of Directors, discussed the vision for the future and stressed self-sufficiency.

“Self-sufficiency is one of the most significant things we are tasked with helping our Tribal members to achieve,” Bobb said, “so that they can stand side by side with others in this society as equal and not count on, or rely upon, the support of those who do.

“Self-sufficiency, since the time of our Restoration, has been a goal, has been a mission and an expectation for our people, our children and our Tribe that we bring self-sufficiency to the next generation of Grand Ronde Tribal members.”

A PowerPoint slide stated that non-elderly, non-disabled tenants should gain stability in their lives and be able to move out of assisted housing within five to eight years of moving into assisted housing.

Bobb exhorted Tribal members to work hard to be successful and self-sufficient.

“Grand Ronde Tribal members are strong people,” Bobb said. “Please don’t let your life be a blank page in a book of achievement.”

DeMarco closed the presentation by reminding Tribal members that the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority must follow federal regulations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Interim General Manager Rick George gave a brief presentation about the Friday, Dec. 5, grand opening of the new Grand Ronde Food Bank, 9675 Grand Ronde Road.

The new food bank is operated by Salem-based Marion-Polk Food Share, which hired Tribal member Francene Ambrose to manage it.

Vice President of Programs Ian Dixon-McDonald later said that 55 food boxes were distributed and 169 individuals were served.

“It is an investment in this community’s future. It’s an investment in self-sufficiency,” George said.

The next food distribution will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

The Education Committee also reported to General Council. Committee Chair Tammy Cook introduced the other members – Mychal Cherry, David DeHart, Alton Butler, Brenda Tuomi, Tracy Moreland and Shelby Olson-Rogers.

The committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Monday of the month in the Adult Education Building. Its current theme is convincing Tribal youth that “school is cool.”

DeHart reported that since 2004, Tribal members have earned eight doctorate degrees, 60 master’s degrees, 162 bachelor’s degrees, 125 associate degrees and 202 GED diplomas.

“Student success equals the Tribe’s success,” Tuomi said.

Cook read a hefty list of universities and colleges that Tribal students have graduated from. “Our Tribal members have graduated from some of the biggest and most prestigious colleges in the United States, and for that we can be very, very proud,” she said.

In response to a question from Spirit Mountain Community Fund Director Kathleen George about high rates of absenteeism among Native students in Oregon, Tuomi said the Education Committee is seeking to start a mentorship program.

Acting Education Department Manager John Harp added that two more youth tutors have been added to the department’s 2015 budget.

“I think they do a great job,” Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno said about the Education Committee. “This Tribe has surely stepped up and showed our commitment to education and bettering our Tribal members’ lives.”

Tribal Council member Jon A. George said that through the Tribe’s and Education Committee’s efforts, Tribal children are no longer taught “if” they will go to college, but “when” they will go to college.

In other action, nominations for three open seats on the Elders Committee occurred. Louise Coulson nominated Julie Duncan; Duncan nominated Cherie Butler; Laura Gleason nominated Faye Smith; Violet Folden nominated Jennie Van Atta; and Gladys Hobbs nominated Duane Wheeler. Votes will be accepted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at the birthday meeting held at the Elders Activity Center and also during the Sunday, Jan. 4, General Council meeting.

Kathy Soderberg won the $100 door prize and Jade Unger, Earnest Norton and Kiah Runningbird won the $50 door prizes. In addition, necklaces and earrings donated by Tribal Council member Jon A. George, four turkey or ham gift certificates donated by Tribal Council and homemade food items donated by Veronica Gaston were raffled off.

Land and Culture Department Manager Jan Looking Wolf Reibach, Tribal Council members Chris Mercier and Jon A. George and Jade Unger performed the cultural drumming and singing to open the meeting. Elder Steve Bobb Sr. gave the invocation.

The next General Council meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, in the Community Center.

The entire meeting can be viewed on the Tribal website, www.grandronde.org, under the Video shortcut.