More than 100 homes from the Minot (N.D.) Air Force Base will be moved to the White Earth Indian Reservation in the next two years.
The homes will be used to establish a women's center, replace 12 fire-ravaged houses and add 96 new dwellings on the west-central Minnesota reservation.
"There's a real big need for housing here right now," Ron Valiant, the tribe's executive director, said Tuesday.
"We have over 300 people on a list waiting for homes and the list is growing all the time," he said.
Air Force officials in Minot announced in October that they planned to give 297 homes to the Walking Shield American Indian Society.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Tustin, Calif.-based nonprofit group relocates excess houses from U.S. military bases to American Indian reservations.
About 100 of the Minot homes were set to be moved to Belcourt, N.D., and the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation.
Valiant said about 110 additional homes will be moved to White Earth, possibly as soon as August.
White Earth Tribal Chairman Doyle Turner said the homes can't arrive soon enough for the tribe.
"Housing is one of the biggest problems we face. These homes mean a great deal to us," he said.
Built in the 1960s, the houses each have three bedrooms, two baths and some feature vaulted ceilings.
Each unit will come equipped with a stove, refrigerator and new cabinets.
The houses can be purchased by tribal members and located on tribal land or taxable land elsewhere on the reservation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Most home prices will start at $30,000 and go higher, Valiant said. The tribe will hold a meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at its tribal headquarters to talk about financing for the homes.
For more information on the housing program or Thursday's meeting, call the tribe at (218) 983-3285, extension 292.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Cole Short at (701) 241-5557
