News Release
Native American Youth and Family Center
The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) and Community Development Partners (CDP) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the Hayu Tilixam affordable housing development.
Hayu Tilixam, meaning “Many Nations” in the Chinook language, offers 50 new affordable housing units within the Cully neighborhood, an area of growing density and pedestrian activity near the intersection of NE Prescott Street and NE Cully Boulevard. Hayu Tilixam is the third project Community Development Partners (CDP) and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) have partnered on to provide affordable housing opportunities to the Native community in NE Portland.
Hayu Tilixam is designed by and for low-income, Native American and BIPOC families. The project, located at 5827 NE Prescott Street, will provide critical housing and wraparound services for our most vulnerable community members, including nine units of permanent supportive housing. This is the second time Native American Youth and Family Center and the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) are partnering to provide critical stabilization services to residents since opening Nesika Illahee in February 2020.
“We are so proud of the continued work CDP and NAYA have been able to accomplish together,” said Eric Paine, CEO, Community Development Partners. “Hayu Tilixam is our third collaboration together and our first in partnership with Portland Housing Bureau who provided the land and Portland Housing Bond funding. The project focuses on serving Native families with a design that includes input from community members and elders in the Native community to ensure a welcoming and culturally responsive environment where residents will be able to feel at home.”
Speakers will include Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan, Oregon State Representative Tawna Sanchez, HUD Regional Administrator of the NW Margaret Salazar, Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Andrea Bell, and representatives from each of the partner organizations that saw the project to fruition.
“We are thrilled to participate in the opening of Hayu Tilixam in celebration of another 50 affordable homes for the Native American community,” said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. “These homes represent transformative design that brings together the celebration of many nations under one roof – this is an invaluable contribution to our region. Congratulations!”
Adhering to Earth Advantage green building standards, the development was designed by Carleton Hart Architecture and constructed by LMC Construction. In addition to 50 dwelling units, Hayu Tilixam will also offer community spaces programmed with support services, prominent Native American art, offices for property management and resident services staff, and an outdoor courtyard. The design team used trauma-informed design principles to shape the building spaces, colors, and materials.
Hayu Tilixam is part of a greater vision for the Native community in the Cully neighborhood. Following the completion of Nesika Illahee with its focus on recovery, and Mamook Tokatee in May of this year with its focus on Native artists as culture keepers, this third development offers nine units of permanent supportive housing. All three developments are located within one mile of NAYA’s campus and services on NE Columbia Blvd.
“Native Americans experience houselessness at a higher rate than other groups — this is a major issue for the Native community and for Portland,” said Paul Lumley, CEO, Native American Youth and Family Center. “We are pleased to offer permanent supportive housing options so close to our campus and appreciate the partnership with the City of Portland and with NARA for critical supports for the residents of Hayu Tilixam.”
Community Development Partners and Native American Youth and Family Center co-developed the property with on-site resident services provided by NAYA and Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest. Property management is provided by Viridian Management. The project is supported by a land donation and $7.97 million in Portland Housing Bond funds awarded by the Portland Housing Bureau, 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Solar Investment Tax Credit allocation with investment from National Equity Fund (NEF), and Oregon Housing and Community Services Weatherization funds. Additional funding was received from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) and the Energy Trust of Oregon. Ongoing operating support for the project’s PSH units is provided by the Joint Office of Homeless Services. Construction financing was provided by Washington Federal Bank and a permanent loan is provided by Citibank.
About Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
Native American Youth and Family Center provides culturally specific programs and services that guide our people in the direction of personal success and balance through cultural empowerment. Our mission is to enhance the diverse strengths of our youth and families in partnership with the community through cultural identity and education.
About Community Development Partners
Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long term community engagement and innovative design. As a mission-driven, forward-thinking organization, CDP is focused exclusively on creating vibrant affordable housing communities that incorporate art, public parks, gardens, fresh food, and cultural and social programming. Today, CDP has successfully built or preserved 44 unique projects comprised of over 3,500 units throughout Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona.
About Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA)
The mission of Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest is to provide education, physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives and anyone in need.
Related coverage:
Oregon’s first tribal- and artist- preference housing nearly complete – ICT (indiancountrytoday.com)
