White Mountain Apache Housing Authority Receives Prestigious AQUARIUS Award for Excellence in Community Engagement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
[WASHINGTON, D.C., April 3, 2024] – The White Mountain Apache Housing Authority (WMAHA) was honored today with the EPA’s AQUARIUS Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, in recognition for its work with the Apache Pine Housing Project.
The Apache Pine Housing Project is a 38-rental unit housing facility on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. WIFA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to the WMAHA facilitated the extension of drinking water services to these units through construction of sewer lines, water mains, service lines, and meters. The AQUARIUS Award nationally recognizes projects funded by Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans that exemplify the high level of innovation encouraged by that program. The Apache Pine Housing Project was selected as one of only six Exceptional Projects for the 2023 award cycle.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) struggles with limited job opportunities for tribal members and high unemployment. That, coupled with displacement from natural disasters such as fires, has contributed to a severe and chronic housing shortage for tribal members. WMAHA, as the tribally designed housing authority for WMAT, was able to complete this critical housing project through their WIFA loan and additional assistance from Indian Health Services, Competitive Affordable Housing Program, Capital Magnet, and the Indian Community Development Block Grant Program. “WMAHA are so grateful these funds are available for their use and are very thankful a portion of the funds are forgivable, especially since COVID-19 impacts has severely strained WMAHA's limited project budget, which was formulated prior to COVID-19,” said Project Manager Marvin Burnette.
“It is rare to see the level of dedication and enthusiasm that the WMAT tribe invested in the Apache Pine Housing project,” said WIFA Director Chuck Podolak. “Despite multiple setbacks, difficulty finding additional funding sources, timing and staffing issues related to COVID-19, representatives from WMAHA were tenacious in their pursuit of this project. Tribal leaders worked relentlessly to complete this project and bring critically needed housing to tribal members. WIFA is thrilled to have played a role in bringing safe, reliable water to these homes and looks forward to seeing the project’s continued success.”
“The White Mountain Apache Tribe has been an exemplary and long-standing partner with EPA on improving access to drinking water and wastewater service,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA is proud to congratulate White Mountain Apache Tribe on their continued leadership and initiative as demonstrated in the Apache Pine Housing Project.”
About WIFA
WIFA is a state agency dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of Arizona's present and future water supply through financial investments in effective augmentation, conservation, reuse, and water quality. WIFA is Arizona's administrator of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), providing low-interest loans and technical assistance to water and clean water infrastructure projects, as well as three new funds aimed at conserving water and identifying new supplies. Over the last 30 years, WIFA has proudly invested almost $3 billion in communities throughout Arizona driving sustainable solutions and helping to secure Arizona’s water future.
###