A new housing project in Warm Springs will provide permanent supportive housing for tribal members who are chronically homeless.

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and the Warm Springs Housing Authority celebrated last week the official opening of the 5-acre housing community, featuring 10 one-bedroom units, a duplex and a service center where residents will receive case management from the tribe’s behavioral health team.

The project was fully funded through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service and the state of Oregon, which provided a $4.1 million grant, according to a news release.

“For our community members who face extensive barriers to transitioning out of homelessness, they not only need resources but to be among a community that cares,” said Danielle Wood, executive director of the Warm Springs Housing Authority. “As people move in, they’ll be exactly where they need to be to begin their journey towards recovery and stability. I thank our community, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service and the State of Oregon for making this possible.”

There are 91 homeless people living in Warm Springs, according to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count. That’s an increase from 73 in 2023 and 22 in 2022.

The jump mirrors trends from across the country, as homelessness has increased among Native Americans and Alaska Natives by 53%, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Indigenous people experience the second-highest rate of homelessness of any racial or ethnic group in the country.

The supportive housing will allow Warm Springs tribal members to stay within their communities as they transition out of homelessness, according to the release.

“This housing center is one more way in which we can ensure that everyone has the resources they need to thrive, with their community behind them every step of the way,” said Caroline Cruz, general manager of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Department of Health and Human Services.

Completion of the project comes amid several corresponding efforts to boost housing supply and address homelessness on the reservation. Last year the tribe received a $7.5 million federal grant to build new housing and roads and a $2 million grant for low-income housing.

On Aug. 26 the federal government announced $145,000 in funding for the Warm Springs Housing Authority to continue a program that subsidizes rents for homeless veterans on the reservation.