Overview

Nesika Illahee (“Our Place” in Chinook Wawa) is a 59-unit affordable housing development located in the Cully neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. The project was conceived as a culturally specific housing model to address the disproportionate housing instability experienced by Native people in Portland. It was co-developed through a partnership between the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Community Development Partners, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA NW).

The development was designed by Carleton Hart Architecture and constructed with Community Development Partners as the primary development partner. It is owned jointly by NAYA and Community Development Partners and is professionally managed by FPI Management, with resident services provided by NARA NW. The project represents one of the first major urban applications of Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funding to support off-reservation tribal housing in a culturally grounded, service-rich environment.

Project Features

59-unit mixed-income affordable housing development
Unit mix includes studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments
Designed for Native households, including preference for tribal members under IHBG structure
On-site supportive services coordinated through NAYA and NARA NW
Recovery-oriented community environment supporting health and stability needs
Shared community spaces including:
- Community room and kitchen
- Outdoor plaza and gathering areas
- Community garden
Culturally grounded design elements such as Indigenous artwork, storytelling features, and carved architectural details
Located within walking distance of NAYA’s campus, connecting residents to wraparound services including health, employment, and youth programming

Funding Sources

Nesika Illahee was financed through a blended capital stack that combined traditional affordable housing tools with Indigenous housing funding mechanisms:

Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funding from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) LIFT and gap funding
Additional state housing support programs
Private lending and equity investment through development partners
Support from nonprofit and tribal housing infrastructure partners

This combination of funding sources was notable for enabling tribal housing investment in an urban, off-reservation context, expanding the use of IHBG funding beyond reservation-based development models.