Doc Meister - Bristol Bay Housing Authority

for Chignik Bay Community Plan

Bristol Bay Housing Authority (ID: 1004)

The Bristol Bay Housing Authority, was established to administer Low Income Home ownership and Low Rent Housing programs funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The programs are governed by the terms of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act. The Housing Authority is not included in any other governmental reporting entity and the Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners has decision-making authority, the responsibility to significantly influence operations and primary accountability for fiscal matters. The Housing Authority does not exercise oversight responsibility over any other entity, although BBHA does monitor sub-recipient activity for provision of housing services and programs administered by the individual tribes who use BBHA as their Tribally Designated Housing Entity.

The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) became effective on October 1, 1997. The purpose of this law is to: (1) streamline the process of providing housing assistance to Native Americans (2) facilitate, where possible, the development of private housing finance mechanisms and (3) promote economic self-sufficiency and self-determination among Native Americans. Accordingly, it eliminates many of the compliance requirements under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended, as well as the associated regulations, handbooks and guidebooks that provided guidance in the past. While permitting the Tribal Entity greater latitude in establishing policies and procedures, it also created additional reporting and administrative requirements.

Under NAHASDA, block grants are awarded directly to tribal entities and the amount of the block grant is determined by the number of current assisted stock within the village and the unmet housing needs within the village. Tribes may designate BBHA to be the Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE). Block grants are awarded only after an Indian Housing Plan (IHP) has been submitted. The purpose of an IHP is to demonstrate that the TDHE has made or will make adequate provision to comply with the objectives and stewardship requirements of NAHASDA funds. The IHP is composed of a Five Year Plan and a One Year Plan.

The Five-Year Goal Plans are: Maximize Efficient Use of Funding Resources; Preserve Existing Housing; Encourage the Development of Local Capabilities; Develop Housing Opportunities; Promote Regional Stability; and Implement Balanced Scorecard Framework.

The One-Year Goal Plans are: Village monitoring program; Balanced Scorecard Framework; Modernization program (BBHA-owned housing); Modernization program (privately-owned housing); Regional administrative skills; Regioanl technical skills; LIHTC and rental assistance programs; Downpayment assistance program; Emergency Voucher Program; and Youth crime-prevention program.

The Bristol Bay Housing Authority is a major housing resource for the region. Of the total housing units owned by BBHA, nearly 90% were developed under the Mutual Help Program and will eventually be conveyed to the homebuyers. In addition to an existing 24-unit (three 8 unit buildings named Forest View) Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) apartment building in Dillingham, BBHA has two 8-unit LIHTC buildings - one in King Salmon and one in South Naknek,(named Taiga View), two additional 8-unit LIHTC buildings in Dillingham, (named Muklung Manor), and is in construction of 4 4-unit LIHTC buildings in Togiak (Togiak View).

Because of the low income levels, one would assume that rental housing would be the most appropriate type of housing for the region. However, in the past families have resisted the concept of paying rent in favor of owning their own home. Therefore, nearly all housing developed by the BBHA in the past has been homeownership housing. Because of the prohibitive costs associated with maintaining small rental housing projects in isolated areas, homeownership housing will likely continue to the predominate housing type constructed in the foreseeable future.