House Appropriations Committee Advances Federal Funding to Help Build New Affordable Housing for Tribal Communities
Kilmer Led Effort to Include Over $1.6 Million in Appropriations Bill to Build New Affordable Townhomes on the Suquamish Tribe’s Port Madison Indian Reservation, $2.2 Million for Skokomish Tribal Project to Support New Home Construction
Washington, DC – Today, the House Appropriations Committee advanced new funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to support two affordable housing projects for Tribes in Western Washington.
The Enetai Project will receive more than $1.6 million in funding to help create new affordable housing townhomes on the Suquamish Tribe’s Port Madison Indian Reservation. The project aims to help remedy the local housing crisis.
The T3ba'das Infrastructure Project will receive $2.2 million in funding to support the construction of roads, sidewalks, utilities, and other infrastructure needs for the Skokomish Tribe to complete the development of approximately 20 acres of tribal trust land into buildable lots for new housing.
“Across our region, we need more affordable housing – including for Native communities,” said Rep. Kilmer. “That’s why I’m thrilled that the House Appropriations Committee has advanced new federal funding to build new affordable housing in our region. These projects will not only help ensure more Tribal members can return to their ancestral homelands, but also help ease housing challenges for non-Tribal citizens that live nearby these reservations. These investments are win-wins for our region. I’ll keep working to get this funding signed into law.”
“The Suquamish Tribe sincerely appreciates Representative Kilmer’s work to include our Enetai Project in the bill. This project will help address the housing crisis on and surrounding our Reservation by creating affordable housing opportunities. Our tribal citizens deserve and should be able to live on their ancestral homelands,” said Leonard Forsman, Tribal Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe.
“The funding, $2,200,000, will provide the financial resources necessary to construct the infrastructure (roads, sidewalks and utilities) for approximately twenty single family homes and a number of multifamily units as well. Housing has been one of the most substantial limiting factors to community development for our Tribe. We have a substantial waitlist for housing, but also are suffering the impacts of climate change which are increasing the frequency of the floods to our community. The Skokomish River is still the most frequently flooded river in Washington State. We will utilize these funds to continue in our mission to provide affordable housing for the members of the Skokomish Tribe and their families. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Kilmer for his efforts to support this vital mission of our Tribe,” said Charles “Guy” Miller, Chairman of the Skokomish Tribal Council.
The Suquamish People continue to live in the place of their ancestors and practice their traditional life ways on the Port Madison Indian Reservation. Over the last 20 years, the Suquamish Tribe has experienced a cultural resurgence, devoting time and resources to the creation of a series of culturally significant buildings on the Port Madison Indian Reservation. The revitalization has led to growth in the number of Tribal citizens who desire to live on their ancestral homelands – and over time, the number of Tribal Members trying to secure affordable housing on the Reservation has risen to approximately 80 to 100 families.
The Enetai Project, which is receiving the Community Project Funding, calls for the construction of a new housing complex on the Suquamish Tribe’s Reservation. Approximately 20 affordable townhomes would be constructed on a parcel of land referred to as the ‘Suquamish Shores,’ an area which has recently returned into Tribal hands. Development of the Enetai Project aims to further enhance the progress being made toward rebuilding the original center of the Suquamish Tribe, as well as improve infrastructure in accordance with the Tribal Master Plan. In addition to providing opportunities for Tribal citizens to return home, the Enetai Project will help ease the housing challenges for the non-Tribal citizens that live in and around the boundaries of the Reservation.
The Community Project Funding for the T3ba'das Infrastructure Project will provide funding to construct the roads, sidewalks, utilities and other infrastructure needed to complete the development of approximately 20 acres of Skokomish tribal trust land into buildable lots for new housing. Providing affordable housing opportunities for tribal members aims to help ensure members can live on the reservation – and ease the affordable housing crisis in the region.
Rep. Kilmer led the effort to secure funding for the project through the House Appropriations Committee’s Community Project Funding process. The Enetai Project is supported by the City of Bainbridge Island Councilmember Leslie Schneider and City of Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson.