Members of the Wrangell Cooperative Association and the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority held a short presentation last Wednesday evening on some upcoming home renovations the organizations plan to complete. The THRHA was in Wrangell in January to talk about renovations to about 20 low-income homes in Wrangell they were completing under the Indian Community Development Block Grant.
Recently, however, both the WCA and the THRHA were awarded the Healthy Homes Production Grant. This money will be used to make the homes of low-income tribal members a healthier place to live.
Esther Ashton, tribal administrator of the WCA, explained that Wrangell applied for the grant in partnership with Kake and Petersburg, in the amount of $1.1 million. Desiree Jackson, director of tribal services for THRHA, said that they won the same grant at about the same time. Money from both of these grants will be used for the same purpose in Wrangell.
"As Esther said, here in Wrangell you guys did apply for a grant, and it was basically $1 million," Jackson said. "At the same time, the housing authority also applied for the same grant, as well, and we got it. So it's a little interesting because they have a $1 million grant that's going to be split between three communities. We have a $1 million grant that's going to be split between 11 of our 12 communities."
Jackson said that their goal, when using this grant money, is to increase education of how to keep a home healthy, and to renovate several local homes to make them healthier. She said this would include things like mold removal, installing better ventilation systems, sealing cracks and openings throughout the home, installing fire and carbon monoxide detectors, and much more. Jackson said that, at minimum, they want to renovate six homes in Wrangell. They will also be providing training on keeping homes healthy to parent groups, homeowners, and child care providers.
Applications are due April 30, Jackson said, and they plan to begin renovations sometime in the summer. Eligible applicants must be tribal members who live in their own, privately owned home. They must also have a family income that is below 80 percent of the area median income, she added. The THRHA will also be prioritizing homes where young children or the elderly live, as both groups are generally more likely to get sick. Homeowners with health concerns like asthma or mobility problems will also be prioritized. Jackson added that these renovations are for homes only, they will not be accepting applications to renovate trailers or boats tribal members may live in.
"Our grant principals really are 'Keep it dry, keep it clean, keep it safe, keep it well ventilated, pest free, contaminant free, well maintained, and thermally controlled,'" Jackson said. "So we'll be talking about all of these points throughout the grant."
Applications can be found online at the THRHA's website, or physical copies can be picked up at the WCA office on Zimovia Highway, near Alpine Mini Mart. To learn more, contact Jackson at (907) 780-3105 or at djackson@thrha.org.
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