By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
9-18-2008

The Bishop Paiute Tribe announced plans this week for a new apartment complex on the Bishop Reservation.
“Housing on the reservation is always a need,” said Robert Vance, Tribal representative and one of the programs leaders.
Traditionally it has been difficult to secure loans on the reservation due to its unique land status, but  the Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD), has issued a Title VI Loan Guarantee to a Palm Springs-based bank that will loan the money for the new apartments.
The apartments are intended for moderate to low-income tribal members and could be available to the public if the need for housing on the reservation diminishes, something Vance does not foresee happening.
Vance said Wednesday that design and architectural drafts are still under review, but he expects to see a ground-breaking ceremony by mid-October. Construction on the first 16 units of the proposed 24-unit project will begin shortly thereafter on the three-acre parcel. The apartments are to be located on the northeast corner of West Line Street and Pa Ha Lane, with the plans calling for six buildings with four, two- to three-bedroom units each. Vance said the property will also have a small laundry facility, meeting and management office spaces and a basketball court.
“We do most of the site work ourselves, using graduates from the Career Development carpentry program, but we always utilize sub-contractors as well,” Vance explained.

The Bishop Paiute Tribe is hoping to break ground on the first 16 units of a 24-unit apartment complex on this three-acre parcel at the corner of West Line Street and Pa Ha Lane in mid-October. Photo by Mike Bodine

He also said that the apartment project will only use half of the Title VI loan leaving the remainder to use on future housing projects. Vance explained that the when the new apartment complex is complete it will serve as an example of the Tribe’s capabilities and hopefully lead to more funding opportunities.
According to the HUD Web site, the purpose of the Title VI loan guarantees is to assist Indian Housing Block Grant recipients who want to finance eligible affordable housing, but are unable to secure financing without a federal guarantee.
Vance said more details about the project and how to apply for the new apartments will be made available at the ground-breaking ceremoney.