Community Voice: Caroline Cruz

Caroline Cruz, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, has been working tirelessly to address the housing needs of her community. With over a decade of experience in human services, specifically in behavioral health, Cruz understands the importance of stable and healthy housing for individuals’ and families’ overall wellbeing. In recent years, she has made it her mission to improve housing options for members of the Warm Springs Tribal community.

Like Cruz, Oregon Housing & Community Services (OHCS) has been taking steps to improve affordable housing options for the state’s nine federally recognized Tribal Nations, by fostering relationships and breaking down barriers to access financing.

Tribal housing needs are unique and formed by culture, past and current housing policies, and other factors unique to Tribal lands. Many houses on Tribal lands are inherited and need repairs over the years, which can be a challenge for households of low income. Additionally, cost of living is often greater on Tribal lands, which can be a barrier to meeting basic needs.

To address these challenges, OHCS is working with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to create a master grant agreement that honors Tribal sovereign immunity, includes NICRA, and allows a funding set-aside for Tribal nations to be easily deployed and accessed for housing needs. In total, $9 million is set aside through the federal By and For Initiative for all federally recognized Tribes in Oregon for homeless services, operating emergency shelters, and buying affordable housing. In addition, based on feedback, OHCS is also designating a set-aside fund of $5 million in non-competitive grants just for Tribal nations that can be used to preserve and promote Tribal homeownership.

Investing in Tribal housing infrastructure means preserving culture. It means creating spaces where Tribal members can stay in touch with their roots whether it’s learning how to can salmon in the backyard or making huckleberry products in the kitchen. In other words, having access to safe, affordable, and healthy housing can help create thriving communities where members feel like they belong.