Services

SIHA Startup

The San Ildefonso Housing Authority was authorized as an independent Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) under Council Resolution No. SI-R21-026 – Housing Authority Act – on November 24, 2021 to administer the Tribe’s Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) block grant funding to invest in housing and community development on the Pueblo to include:

Resolutions forming SIHA adopted
Official organization documents filed
Five-person Board convened
Bylaws, Policies, passed by Board
Federal authorizations obtained
SIHA office set up for operations
Developed strategic plan of action
Two staff hired
Set up bank and accounting systems
Set up housing management system
Secured $4 million in funding for rehabilitation and new home projects

NM Gas Energy Efficiency Program

We’re pleased to announce that SIHA has been selected as a New Mexico Gas Company Native American Energy Efficiency Program partner. The New Mexico Gas Native American Energy Efficiency Program will provide NO-COST energy efficiency services to help tribal seniors save energy and money.

We’ve signed up the maximum of thirty seniors 60 and above to receive these services in a first round of services through the end of the year. We’ve also received about 15 applications from seniors who we hope to serve with a second round of services in February of 2023. We still need about 15 applications to fill up the second round. If you’re a senior over 60 who owns your home on the Pueblo and would like these services,
call or e-mail Business Services Manager, Christopher Romero, at (505) 455-4162, christopher@sanihousing.org, or stop by the SIHA office to sign up for the February program.

COVID Relief Packages

SIHA has received a one-time allocation of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to provide COVID relief services to Pueblo Members. COVID relief packages containing supplies such as: masks; thermometers, pulse oximeters; cleaning supplies and disinfectants; sanitizers; air purifier; laundry supplies; moisturizer; and alcohol wipes will be distributed to all Pueblo households. We expect to be delivering the packages sometime in November.

Home Improvement Program

Tribal Council is considering a SIHA request to match SIHA funding dedicated to home repairs with Pueblo ARP funding for a Home Improvement Program.

If adopted, the program will make up to $7,500 in emergency repairs available to low-income homeowners. Non-low-income Pueblo homeowners will also be eligible to receive up to $7,500 in home repairs of their choice, However, non-low-income homebuyers will be required to match the home improvement grant on a dollar-for-dollar basis in order to qualify for participation in the program.

We will open up the program waiting list to everyone and provide more program information once the NM Energy and COVID relief Package projects are completed.

Deer Tail 2 New Housing Project

With strong support from Governor and Council, SIHA has raised $3.5 million to fund construction of infrastructure to support 12-24 new homes in the Deer Tail neighborhood. We’re now getting the design and engineering work done for that project in hopes of getting under construction shortly after the first of the New Year.

Home Conveyances Status Report

We know that as many as thirty households are waiting for conveyance of their paid-off homes. This is a very high priority in our workplan. However, it is a difficult assignment. SIHA has spent a great amount of time working with BIA to get properties leased to NPHA into SIHA ownership so that these conveyances can be completed. We can’t estimate a completion time, yet. In addition, we’re still looking to hire a Housing Manager who will be responsible for completing this work. Once we find that person, their responsibility will include processing conveyances as quickly as possible. In the meantime, SIHA staff has submitted everything requested by BIA so far and we’re now waiting for a reply so we can move on to the next step in the lease assumption process. Again, thanks for your patience while we work this through.

Housing Emergency Procedure

SIHA has received a large number of requests for a 24-hour, 7 days a week, emergency number to call to support Members who experience housing emergencies. We do NOT have this service available, yet.

Pueblo homeowners are reminded that while SIHA does plan to make extensive services like those described above available on a regular basis, it is homeowners responsibility, not SIHA’s, to maintain your home.

While we work to develop an on-call service for Members over time, Tribal Council has asked us to publish the following list of 24-hour, 7 days a week emergency service providers that Members can call anytime in the event of a housing emergency.