TOKA
TOKA
FEBRUARY 2013
VOL. 2 ISSUE 1
TOHONO O’ODHAM KI:KI ASSOCIATION
IN THIS ISSUE:
• New Leaders in the Ranks...
Page 2
• Making Headlines...Page 3
• TOKA Wellness...Page 3
• Maintenance Tips..Back Cover
• TOKA Community Calendar...Back cover
Breaking
Ground!
The Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki Association is pleased
to announce the groundbreaking for the latest housing
Indian-owned firm, which will build the initial 14 homes. We
construction in San Xavier District, which consists of nine
look forward to continuing our commitment to our mission
lots in Little Nogales community, and five in the Two Hills
of building affordable housing for members of the Tohono
community.
O’odham Nation.
The January 25 groundbreaking was a joint
allocation between the US Department of Housing and
that was recently overcome due to the efforts of the Indian
New Year...
New Dreams!
Health Service. There are currently three more home site
holiday season was great! There are many projects that
locations under assessment for environmental feasibility.
we are working on here at TOKA, whether it be building
homes, making repairs to rental units, or remodeling
Urban Development, and the Native American Housing
Assistance & Self Determination Act. The funds were
originally set aside by the Tohono O’odham Legislative
Council in 2005 for the planning and development of a
new seventeen home site. However this project was put
on hold due to the lack of utility infrastructure, an obstacle
The TOKA Board of Directors recently awarded the
construction contract to Native Nations Builders, LLC, an
1
Hello & Happy New Year! We hope that your
vacant and abandoned homes.
(Continued on page 2 )
TOKA is proud to announce new leaders
within its ranks
Ms. Monica Morgan
TOKA Board Member
Tohono O’odham, Pisinemo
Bachelors in Elementary Education
Arizona State University
Ms. Morgan currently works for the Tohono O’odham Nation in the Division of
Special Needs Department responsible for handling their new Family Support & Children
Development.
Other changes that have happened within TOKA:
Mr. Lawrence Lopez
Force Account Manager
Marlo Norris-Enos, Human Resources Director
Tohono O’odham, Chukut Kuk
Associates in Liberal Arts
Tohono O’odham Community College
Six years of construction experience. Mr. Lopez will
be working towards going to construction management
school and recently participated in the TOKA Apprentice
Program.
Damascus Francisco, Development Director
Charles Young, Maintenance Director
Luis Jimenez, IT Supervisor
Tom Shepherd, Procurement Manager
(Continued from cover story New Year...New Dreams )
Effective January 4, 2013, the Tohono O’odham
their rent is increased and proceeds would be retained
Ki:Ki Association is pleased to offer a new program to
by TOKA. However, in the FSS program, TOKA will hold
assist our rental tenants: the HUD Family Self Sufficiency
the escrow account for the beneficiary which will be
Program.
The Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS) is
released to them after no less than one year. Proceeds of
designed to assist families in rental housing work towards
the account can be utilized for any purpose the tenant
goals of attaining improved employment opportunities,
deems necessary, such as towards the down payment of
increased income and ultimately work toward goals of
a new home, furniture, etc.
attaining home ownership.
For a full list of benefits and more information
TOKA is working collaboratively with other agencies
regarding the Family Self Sufficiency Program, please
on the Nation to improve our residents’ outcomes for
visit our website (www.tokahousing.org), “Like” us on
success in improving their economic self-sufficiency and
Facebook (facebook.com/kikiassociation), or follow us
overall ability to own their own home.
on Twitter (twitter.com/tokahousing).
While participating in the FSS program, should a
family member experience an increase in income, TOKA
will start an escrow account for the beneficiary with
proceeds derived from an individual’s increase in rental
premiums. The escrow account will be held for a term no
less than one year from the date of inception or until a
resident vacates the TOKA rental property. Under usual
circumstances, if a tenant receives an increase in income,
2
Making
Headlines!
TOKA Wellness
Program
From left to right: Jason Sixkiller - IT Specialist,
Stella Harvey - Financial Analyst, Jeff Antone - IT Specialist
Last December, TOKA was featured on the front
page of “The Runner”. We celebrated our 50th anniversary
Health and welfare are an intricate and important
last year. To celebrate, we
part of being human. As part of our community, we should
held an event at the Sells
not only aspire to make ourselves better, we should seek
Recreation Center and
to make our neighborhoods healthy and clean as well.
featured various speakers
as well as offered food for
anyone that wanted to
Wellness Program for our employees which may include
attend. In the past year,
some activities with the rental residents. Activities are
we have worked diligently
expected to include fun runs and walks, neighborhood
to build new homes and
clean-ups, as well as some sports activities! TOKA will be
remodel and repair vacant and abandoned homes. We
sending out notices to invite residents and look forward
look forward to a successful new year not only for our
to community participation as we begin to incorporate
organization, but for our community as a whole.
fitness and nutrition into our lifestyle.
This year, TOKA is planning on implementing a
Waking up to a good workout:
• Find a reliable alarm clock
• Ready your workout clothes the night before
• Stay motivated and don’t procrastinate; don’t allow
yourself to give up!
• Find a workout buddy or motivate your family
• Work towards a specific goal
For a full version of the article featured in The
there; find one that you can work towards! Get motivated
Runner, please visit our website (www.tokahousing.org)
and check out the About Us section!
There are many community fun runs and walks out
3
and get started!
TOKA
TOHONO O’ODHAM KI:KI ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 790 - Sells, AZ 85634
TOKA
(520) 383-2202
www.tokahousing.org
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR ALL YOUR UP-TO-DATE
TOKA NEWS AND INFORMATION. YOU COULD ALSO
WIN LUNCH FOR TWO FROM THE DESERT RAIN CAFE.
TOKA Community Calendar
NOTICE: TOKA board meetings have been changed to 1:30PM every second and
fourth Monday of the month. Our next meeting is February 25th; all meetings are
open to the public.
Tips from TOKA:
To avoid tripping electrical
circuits or causing electric
Residential Counselor Schedules:
fires, do not overload
Debra Lopez
standard outlets
• Sells District Residential Counselor and is in office through out the week for those from this district.
• 2nd Tuesday of each month at Schuk Toak District Office 9am-12pm.
• 2nd Thursday of each month at Pisinemo District Office 9am-12pm.
Julie Cruz
• 3rd Friday of each month at San Miguel Community Building for
Chukut Kuk District from 9am-3pm.
with unapproved
adapters. Having
multiple items
plugged into an
outlet is
• 4th Tuesday of each month in Hickiwan District from 9am-3pm.
not safe. Christmas
• 4th Friday of each month at Baboquivari District from 9am-3pm.
time is no
Serena Jose
• 2nd Wednesday of each month at Sif Oidak District Office 9am-12pm.
• 3rd Friday of each month at Gu Vo District Office 9am-12pm.
• Last Tuesday of each month at San Xavier District 9am-3pm.
Merlena Smith
exception. Do not
forget to place
child safe plugs
over outlets when
• 1st Wednesday of each month at Gu Achi District Office from 9am-12pm.
outlets are not in
• 4th Thursday of each month at San Lucy Health and Human Services Modular from use. Never use an
10am-2pm.
Beverly Matthews
• Collections is at San Lucy Health and Human Services Modular for collection
appointments and payment pick-ups, 4th Thursday of each month 10am - 2pm.
outlet that is burnt. Damaged
outlets need to be replaced by
a qualified electrician.