Navajo Housing Authority Moves Onward To Take On The Real Challenges

By Chester Carl, Chief Executive Officer

Navajo Housing Authority

For nearly a year now, Navajo Housing Authority has been under attack from certain individuals who went to anyone that would listen to their complaints: the NHA Board of Commissioners, every tribal official and committee, federal officials, the local media, and others we may never know about. And each time, I was called in to answer their allegations, and each time their claims were politely dismissed.

But last October, probably to clear the air, Congressman Udall (D-New Mexico) asked for a review by the most powerful investigative agency of the U.S. government – the Office of Inspector General. We welcomed this review.

From December to January OIG staff carefully looked through every document, phone record, travel log, bank record, receipt, and transaction we had in our possession. In June they completed their reports.

In the simplest terms, the report said that other than violations often found in large organizations, NHA was properly handling the problems and expressed complete confidence in our own review. The reports also noted $6,430 missing from one of our sub-offices, which we voluntarily placed into the hands of the Navajo Nation Prosecutor’s office.

Through all this, it became clear that the allegations were just retaliation by a community housing board whose contract was revoked by NHA for violations that could have jeopardized funding to all Navajos. For this, I became a target and was dragged through numerous newspaper stories and editorials – the last editorial even called for my removal. I sat back and never responded to any of this.

In the Christian way the Bible says, “the truth shall set me free.” It’s almost the same in the traditional Navajo way that I was raised: work hard, be strong, get up at dawn and pray to the holy ones, and run, so you won’t be lazy and you’ll have a strong mind. So I kept running and running every morning. It gave me strength, endurance, and made me mentally tough. Years later when I stopped running competitively, I’d won the Pikes Peak Marathon three times, and a best of 27th place at the prestigious Boston Marathon.

My upbringing probably gave me the stamina and courage to get through times like the past year. But I understand their frustration, especially when you’re told you haven’t paid your rent – when you did. Or when you’re asked to relocate so NHA can renovate your home, and the project takes longer than expected. Or when a contractor’s shoddy work becomes evident after a tenant begins complaining – then to find they’re out of business. We know that problems like these don’t win us any empathy or friends. Established in 1963, NHA is a large organization; almost 1,000 employees, spread out across the reservation to oversee 7,500 homes and construct new homes. Problems will always happen.

I also know the frustration when $1.25 billon is needed to just build a shelter (no utilities) for 30,000 families in demand right now. Yet, Navajo only gets an average of $90 million per year, of which $25 million is spent on maintenance, rehabilitation, and rental assistance for existing homes.

Or when we must spend 30 to 40 cents for every $1, for clearance and just to prepare a future home site for utility connections; while inner city housing authorities get to spend almost the full amount on construction because they’re site ready. Or before we even do anything the project is stuck in red tape because we must address land clearance issues such as customary use and right-of-way – only because we live on an Indian reservation.

All of this slows progress in Indian country to a turtle’s pace. Then you see 200 home subdivisions going up at lightening pace, off the reservation, and wonder what’s wrong. And how does one make house payments or repairs when jobs are scarce? And in a time of constant social change among our people, how do we build safe communities? Or how do we build homes in remote areas that are in desperate need when there isn’t even a light pole or telephone line nearby? These are some of the real battles we’re fighting each day.

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