In a significant step toward addressing housing needs,
the Yavapai-Apache Nation has been awarded an $800,000 grant
from Western Alliance Bank, in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco).
(Western Alliance Bank® Press Release)
This funding will support the construction of Yavapai-Apache Homes IX,
a 38-unit affordable housing project
in the Tunlii community on the Yavapai-Apache Reservation in Camp Verde, Arizona.
A Boost for Tribal Housing
The Yavapai-Apache Homes IX project will feature
a mix of two-bedroom duplexes and three- and four-bedroom single-family homes,
designed to provide quality, affordable housing for Tribal members.
The grant, facilitated through FHLBank San Francisco’s voluntary funding program,
enables the Nation to enhance the project’s budget.
According to Sharie Benson, Executive Director of Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Housing,
the additional funds will cover critical components that were initially uncertain,
including the Tribal Employment Rights Office program, security cameras,
and a sufficient General Requirement budget.
“This grant has made it possible to now include these items in our budget,”
Benson shared on July 31, 2025.
Construction on the Homes IX project began in May 2025,
with the first homes expected to be ready for occupancy by October 2025.
FrameTec, a Camp Verde-based framing manufacturing company,
is leading the construction, which also includes a community gymnasium.
The project follows the successful floor plans used in Yavapai-Apache Homes VIII,
which delivered 40 homes and a community building.
Expanding Housing Opportunities
The Yavapai-Apache Nation, with approximately 2,700 enrolled members,
faces a significant housing shortage,
with over 150 families on the Tribal housing waiting list.
The Nation’s reservation, spanning 7.65 square miles
across five communities—Tunlii, Middle Verde, Rimrock, Camp Verde, and Clarkdale—
was expanded in recent years through a land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service.
Historically, the Nation’s land base was far larger,
covering 900 square miles before their forced removal to the San Carlos Reservation in 1875.
Today, about 400 members live in Clarkdale and 800 in Camp Verde,
with many others residing off-reservation but eager to return.
Chairwoman Tanya Lewis emphasized the Nation’s commitment
to reclaiming land and expanding housing.
“Every bit of land that the Nation has,
we’ve had to purchase every single one of it back,” she said,
underscoring the ongoing effort to grow the reservation
to meet the housing needs of Tribal members.
Looking Ahead
The Yavapai-Apache Nation is already planning for the future,
having secured approval through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program
for Yavapai-Apache Homes X, a 37-home project
set to begin development in summer 2026.
Like Homes IX, this project will utilize the proven floor plans from Homes VIII,
ensuring efficiency and consistency in delivering quality housing.
The $800,000 grant from Western Alliance Bank and FHLBank San Francisco
represents a vital investment in the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s vision
of fostering community growth and providing safe, affordable homes for its people.
As construction progresses, these efforts will help bring more Tribal members
back to their ancestral lands,
strengthening the Nation’s cultural and communal ties.
