Air Force donates homes to American Indians

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Hayward
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ELY, Nev. --  Mountain Home Air Force Base has been working in conjunction with Operation Walking Shield to donate homes to the Ely Shoshone Tribe here since 2010.

Walking Shield is a program that combines efforts with the Air Force that was created to address the overcrowding and homelessness on American Indian reservations. The partnership has provided more than 1,000 housing units to more than 6,000 American Indians on numerous reservations in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Nevada.

"We started the work a few years ago and finally got approval to receive these homes in January 2011," said Wesley Allison, Ely Shoshone Housing Department executive director. "Some of the members are living off the reservation or in downtown Ely, and some of their homes are very old and deteriorating."

The newly delivered homes are livable and in better condition than most of the downtown homes, yet they still receive maintenance soon after arrival to improve living conditions.
"We put vinyl siding on the new homes," said Alvin Marques, Ely Shoshone Housing Department maintenance supervisor. "We also replaced the interiors and put in new cabinets and doors."

The Tribe provides jobs to many of its more than 600 members by performing the maintenance themselves in an effort to save money.

"We're saving close to $50,000 by renovating each home as compared to building a new house in town," said Allison. "Knowing the waiting list currently has 30 active applications with a potential of 70 total members, it makes me feel good to see we're finally providing a solid home to them."

He said the project will be an advantage to the tribe and that they are developing homes on 90 acres to pay for transportation costs and foundations.
MHAFB expects to have all eight homes moved by the end of this month or early next month.

"I would like to thank the Air Force for the opportunity to receive these homes," said Marques.

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