housing construction collage photoWhere:
Fort Yuma Reservation, Arizona

Problem:
Hundreds of Quechan Reservation homes were in disrepair and desperately needed renovation to meet the residents’ safety needs.

Solution:
RCAC staff provided technical assistance to help the community manage its U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) grant.

On the Fort Yuma Reservation in Arizona, 57 percent of Tribally owned homes are valued at less than $100,000, and more than 200 housing units on the reservation are vacant. Many homes were constructed in the 1960s or earlier, and have fallen into disrepair. With temperatures as high as 120 degrees during the summer, old windows, poor insulation and inadequate cooling have made these homes uncomfortable and unsafe to live in.

The Quechan Tribally Designated Housing Entity secured a self-help grant from USDA RD to begin renovating 36 households every two years. Initially, renovation efforts were geared primarily toward installing new air conditioning systems and accessible showers for the elderly. These tasks however, required specialty contractors and used very little owner labor, which created minimal cost savings.

To better comply with grant program requirements, RCAC staff made several site visits and expanded the scope of work. RCAC recommended energy efficient improvements, such as installing high efficiency windows and air conditioning systems, doors and roofing material. The Tribal community and volunteers could complete many of these renovations themselves at a substantial cost savings. These improvements would provide significantly more comfort and lower utility costs.

RCAC is committed to training new Quechan staff to bring them current on the program regulations. This includes an extensive USDA financial reporting review to meet all program requirements. The Tribal community’s aging workforce also was a challenge. Many residents were elderly and unable to perform intensive labor. RCAC staff worked with Quechan to recruit friends and family to join the work effort to make the program a success.

To date, the Quechan rehabilitation program is in its second two-year cycle and it has rehabilitated more than 70 homes.