Having been temporarily suspended through Community Council motion on Dec. 3, 2009, GRIC’s Housing Department’s previous adherence to Residential Housing Improvement Plan (RHIP) guidelines are the subject of scrutiny.
Suspension of the program took effect Dec. 3, 2009 and according to Council motion is not to exceed Dec. 31, 2010.
In a memorandum from GRIC Governor, Honorable William R. Rhodes, dated Jan. 19, 2010, Governor Rhodes stated that an internal audit of the RHIP program raised issues with the programs process revealing inconsistencies with implementation and enforcement.
The Community’s Executive Office obtained an opinion from GRIC attorneys, both in-house and outside counsels, to address the issues raised in the audit and to provide recommendations to ensure the Community and its members are safeguarded.
According to GRIC’s Public Information Officer, Alia Maisonet, the Community’s RHIP program is for the truly needy, with guidelines in place that dictate the order of prioritization.
The RHIP guidelines clearly state homes built with dollars allocated from this program are to be prioritized according to six categories:
- Elderly and disabled families with very low income,
- Elderly and disabled families with low income,
- Other eligible elderly and disabled families,
- Other families with very low income,
- Other families with low income, and finally
- Other eligible families.
As a result of problems in implementing these guidelines and other findings, the Community Council has acted in the best interest of the Gila River Indian Community by temporarily suspending the RHIP program for up to one year in order to conduct a through review and make changes to the program so that it will better serve the Community.
Although one of Governor Rhodes’ campaign platforms was to provide homes for Community members, he stated in the Jan. 19 memorandum that “we need to make sure our elders and truly needy receive priority for the homes built under the RHIP program and those who can afford to pay partial costs for a home can do just that.”
Resulting from 2009 RHIP audit, in which 45 homes contracted in 2007 revealed discrepancies, the Community must consider taking corrective action with those particular 45 homes. If the individuals residing in those homes are over income, alternate funding and payments could be an option made available for them. However, removing residents from homes is definitely not an option.
GRIC’s Internal Audit and Law Office are currently working on identifying the homes in question and collecting information to make sure that the Community was consistent with the program in constructing and turning these homes over. Based on the findings of these evaluations, the Community will make a determination on how to handle those individuals who might be over-income.
However, there is nothing permanent or immediate in terms of any action that could be taken.
With GRIC’s suspension of the RHIP program, the Community has moved to utilize funds from the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) for the construction of houses.
“Free housing maybe gone but NAHASDA can be converted to free housing depending on the applicant’s situation. The elderly, handicapped and special needs can still entertain, or be entertained, for free housing,” said Governor Rhodes.
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