Legislation would replace NHA as designated entity
Navajo Times | Ravonelle Yazzie The Navajo Housing Authority development in Pigeon Springs, New Mexico is seen Wednesday. The next development in the area may be built by a different housing agency, if Navajo Nation Council Delegate Jonathan Hale has his way. Hale wants to designate another entity to receive grant funds, as he says NHA has not built houses in years and is in danger of having to return money to the federal government.
Navajo Times | Ravonelle Yazzie
The Navajo Housing Authority development in Pigeon Springs, New Mexico is seen Wednesday. The next development in the area may be built by a different housing agency, if Navajo Nation Council Delegate Jonathan Hale has his way. Hale wants to designate another entity to receive grant funds, as he says NHA has not built houses in years and is in danger of having to return money to the federal government.
WINDOW ROCK
For as long as Council Delegate Jonathan Hale (Oaksprings/St.Michaels) can remember, Navajo Housing Authority hasn’t built any new homes.
“Ever since I became member of council I haven’t seen homes built,” said Hale. “Other than public buildings that they built, but we are talking homes. Homes always come up as an issue. You talk to elders, veterans and community they always say ‘I want a home’ — and nothing.”
Not only has NHA failed royally in supplying the one thing it was established to do, which is build homes for the Navajo people, but they are also in the midst of losing $96 million in housing funds because they failed to meet deadlines to spend it, the entity’s critics charge.
NHA was designated in 2004 as the Navajo Nation’s housing entity, meaning it is considered to be the executive agency in carrying out any program, service, or other activity under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996. The agency has not complied with NAHASDA requirements since 2004.
Hale, for the second time, has introduced legislation that would remove NHA as the tribally designated housing entity and authorize the Navajo Nation Community Housing and Infrastructure Department to replace NHA, as consultant JJ Clacs & Company suggested after conducting the Tribally Designated Housing Entity Feasibility Study in 2009.
“The assessments that were done and the people who provided the information pointed out a number of issues — these issues that just seem to not be addressed,” said Hale.
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