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The Mi'kmaq Nation Housing Department goal is to seek a diverse variety of housing opportunities, including but not limited to, affordable housing and housing for elder members and special needs members to meet the needs of various types of household and income levels, while assuring that the housing is safe, decent and sanitary.
The low-income housing needs are vast for the Mi'kmaq Nation. We are an off- reservation Tribe, residing in a service area (county) the size of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. Until now, our primary focus has been the Bon-Aire housing site. Travel within such a large geographical area is proving to be detrimental. There are 83 units for low-income rental activities servicing a minority of our membership, but far from all of our members. It is the proposed intent of the Tribe to secure additional funding to construct cluster sites in the service area for low to very low-income rental and homeownership activities. In addition, we have 16 low-income units at the Tribes' Connor site, These units were renovated through an ICDBG and consist of 2 and 3 bed room units. Recently we completed the mitigation of lead utilizing a grant secured through The Army Corps.
The Bon-Aire site provides a minimal resolution to housing needs. The exact unmet need of housing is still to be determined. However, based on current waiting lists and phone calls, we estimate an additional 30 families with unmet housing needs. Some of these families are living with relatives in over crowded conditions at both the Bon-Aire site and individual homes throughout the service area. They are also forced to relocate out of the area for lack of housing, and economic development.
Currently we have a number of single individuals residing in two and three bedroom units. This is due to the fact that we currently have no single bedroom units.
It is the mission of The Mi'kmaq Nation Housing Department to provide a diverse variety of housing opportunities, to include, affordable housing for elder members and special needs members as well as meeting the needs of various types of household and income levels, while assuring that the housing is safe, decent and sanitary.
Currently The Micmac Housing Department housing portfolio consists of housing located in four distinct areas.
Our BonAire site located in Presque Isle consists of:
• 19 duplex units and 27 single units.
• Approximately 24.3 acres of land.
• Units were constructed around 1957
Units were acquired in 1995 through the closure of Loring Air Force Base.
• 33 are 3 bed room,
• 58 are utilized for low income residential housing,
• 1 unit is utilized as an emergency unit,
• 1 is utilized as a handicapped unit
• 6 units are utilized to facilitate various other Tribal Community Program needs such as Head Start, Elders Program, Youth Program, Housing Administration and Housing Maintenance.
These units are in need of significant renovations due to the age of the units as well as conditions that are conducive to the growth of mold.
• 8 homes are located on the Doyle Road in Caribou on approximately 10.8 acres
• 9 homes are located on Medicine Wheel Drive in Littleton on approximately 200 acres.
• Homes are modular ranch style homes constructed in 2005.
• Of these homes 6 are 2 bed room, 5 are 3 bed room and 6 are 4 bed room.
• Approximately 4.3 acres.
• 11 three bed room units.
• Some of the goals and objectives that will allow the Mi'kmaq Nation Housing Department, to accomplish meeting the needs identified in the mission statement are.
• Encourage the on-going identification and inventory of the housing stock, needs, facilities, programs, and services.
• Develop additional affordable low-income rental and homeownership housing units. To include working with existing mutual help home owners on issues.
• Continue to maintain and modernize our current rental stock to provide adequate, affordable, safe, and sanitary rental housing.
• Assist current low-income homeowners of sub-standard housing with the emergency rehabilitation of their homes.
• Collaborate with Tribal efforts for economic development opportunities.
• Provide housing or budget counseling services.
• We will continue to renovate existing units on the Bon-Aire site and others under our management, to improve the health and safety issues.
• We will continue to upgrade the units by repairing roofs, and putting on insulation and vinyl siding as needed and as the budget permits.
• We will seek out local financing institutions to seek funding as needed with which to expand our current housing stock.
• We will continue to seek alternate funding to enhance our housing program and expand our current housing stock.
• We will seek to continue to rehabilitate units located in Connor.
• We will provide funding to current low-income homeowners for emergency rehabilitation.
• We will continue to work with the social services, and education programs of the Tribe to find ways of job creation and training.
Our Tribal Council meets bi-monthly and determines avenues for programs to support unilaterally across the board within program compliance regulations. The Tribe works very well inter-departmentally. This encompasses, but is not limited to the following departments: Social Services, Education, Cultural, Economic Development, Realty and Assets, Indian Health Services, Environmental, Youth, Head start and Elders.
