$1.25 Million Grant Provides Hope for Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation During Housing Crisis

For Jeri Robertson, managing housing for the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation in Northern California has often meant delivering bad news. Over her five-year tenure, she has seen rents surge, homes overcrowded, and waiting lists stretch for years, leaving families stuck without options. Now, a $1.25 million grant from the Bezos Day One Fund promises to change that, offering resources to tackle homelessness within the tribe.

The Tolowa Dee-ni Nation was the sole tribal recipient among 32 awardees, highlighting the unique challenges faced by Native communities. "Turning people away is heartbreaking," Robertson shared. "Everyone deserves a home, and this grant gives us a real chance to make that possible."

National housing shortages have worsened due to factors such as the 2008 housing crisis, high lumber costs, stagnant wages, and restrictive zoning. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports a deficit of 7 million homes for low-income renters, with California alone accounting for 1.4 million. Tribal communities face added hurdles due to jurisdictional complications, limited infrastructure, economic disparities, and exclusion from mainstream homelessness programs.

The Tolowa Dee-ni Nation Housing Division supports all federally recognized tribal citizens, prioritizing those from their own nation. Many live in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties in California, where average rents range from $1,600 to $2,000, and in Oregons Curry, Coos, and Josephine Counties. The tribes ancestral lands along Californias northwest coast are known for redwood forests, rugged beaches, and coastal trails, but also face economic pressures such as competition from short-term rentals and employers offering wages above local minimums, creating housing challenges for tribal members.

"Affordable housing has become increasingly out of reach for people with typical jobs," Robertson explained. Upon joining the tribe in 2020, she observed long wait times for the 70 housing units under the tribes management. Families were often classified as homeless, staying temporarily with relatives, which increased their vulnerability due to landlord restrictions.

Robertson and her team began taking a more holistic approach, addressing barriers such as employment, mental health, or disabilities. They provided hands-on guidance through available resources, assisting members with transportation and other obstacles on the path to housing stability.

The new grant will allow the Housing Division to expand outreach and intervene before crises occur. "With this funding, we can be proactive rather than reactive," Robertson said. "We aim to identify challenges early and move people into stable housing quickly, because prolonged homelessness only makes recovery more difficult."

Author: Ava Mitchell