Testimonials
TSUU T’INA NATION
HOUSING DEPARTMENT
9911 Chula Blvd., Tsuu T’ina, Alberta T2W 6H6
Phone: 403.281.4455 Facsimile: 403.251.7995
Monday, November 19,2007
To Whom It May Concern:
RE: WHISPER CREEK LOG HOMES
This letter will serve as support for the Whisper Creek Log Homes nomination for the Alberta Awards of Distinction. Tsuu T’ina Nation has had the pleasure of working with WCLH since June of 2007 and although it is a fairly new relationship, it is beneficial to the Tsuu T’ina community.
To break free from the standard model for “reservation housing”, Tsuu T’ina Nation has purchased 25 beautiful log home packages for our new subdivision. The homes will encourage pride of ownership in this unique and beautiful community.
Whisper Creek Log Homes can be erected in as little as two days, and promote local employment. This meets our residential and employment needs. Whisper Creek Log Homes has offered continuous support; going well beyond its responsibilities to ensure a superior product is built.
Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at the number listed above.
Sincerely, TSUU T’INA NATION
HOUSING DEPARTMENT
9911 Chula Blvd., Tsuu T’ina, Alberta T2W 6H6
Phone: 403.281.4455 Facsimile: 403.251.7995
Monday, November 19,2007
To Whom It May Concern:
RE: WHISPER CREEK LOG HOMES
This letter will serve as support for the Whisper Creek Log Homes nomination for the Alberta Awards of Distinction. Tsuu T’ina Nation has had the pleasure of working with WCLH since June of 2007 and although it is a fairly new relationship, it is beneficial to the Tsuu T’ina community.
To break free from the standard model for “reservation housing”, Tsuu T’ina Nation has purchased 25 beautiful log home packages for our new subdivision. The homes will encourage pride of ownership in this unique and beautiful community.
Whisper Creek Log Homes can be erected in as little as two days, and promote local employment. This meets our residential and employment needs. Whisper Creek Log Homes has offered continuous support; going well beyond its responsibilities to ensure a superior product is built.
Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at the number listed above.
Sincerely, TSUU T’INA NATION
January 28,2005
For Immediate Release
Showcase of Native American Housing in Browning, Montana
Browning Montana:
December 16,2004 saw families move into the new community of Country Estates just in time for Christmas; the project which began just one year from move-in, was ready to accept tenants. Blackfeet Housing is to be congratulated with the “new look” to the community. Log style homes and spacious building lots of almost an acre give the area feeling of warmth and space at the time. This is indeed a “showcase of Native American housing!”
At the January annual meeting of United Native American Housing Association held in Denver, Blackfeet Housing received an award for “significantly reducing the crowded housing situation on the Reservation”. This award was in recognition for the thirty-five houses that comprise the project in Browning and Heart Butte. The Country Estates in Browning consist of twenty-eight homes with an additional seven homes ready for occupancy in Heart Butte.
The entire project with infrastructure services and financing took a long time in planning. Blackfeet Housing executive director, Ray Wilson, made application for Montana Tax Credit funding over two years ago. There have been only three such projects on Montana to date.
In addition to the spacious building lots, the project is unique in several ways. Log style homes have never been a feature of such housing programs; this new approach gives tenants a beautiful, solidly built home that will last for generations. Although each home is built with the same design, the selection of color for exterior walls and roof make each home unusual and distinctive. Most of the tenants interviewed were unaware that their homes were the same.
But the most unique aspect of the homes lies in the fact that most of the construction and materials came from local businesses and residents. Whisper Creek Log Homes with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, provided the exterior shells and porches for the homes but all the rest of the materials, labor and actual design of the homes originated from the reservation. The project provided more than forty jobs over the course of the last year. Through this system, the majority of the Blackfeet Housing funding budget stayed on the reservation.
The concept for the project was a mutual idea created through the efforts of Mr. Jay St. Goddard, then Chairman of Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, the Blackfeet Housing Authority with Mr. Wilson and staff and Whisper Creek Log Homes. This partnership persevered to finally get the housing project into its final stages. Additional landscaping and paving with sidewalks and gutters are scheduled for this summer.
According to a recent tenant survey, residents are overwhelmingly positive about their new homes. Features that received the most attention include the lot size and the log like construction of the houses. One resident is anxious to be able to sit on his porch next summer. Another comment about the storage facility in the carport area was, “it even has a light and electrical outlets!”
The survey received comments such as, “we really enjoy the house, we couldn’t wait to move in,” “we haven’t had a house before, so we are going to take care of it; that is one thing we are adamant about” “no one I know has any serious complaints about these houses.” Signs such as “Stop” and “No Shoes” are evident of the delight and commitment to maintain the environment of the log home community.
Perhaps the most interesting comment received during the survey indicates the joy of living there. “You tell everyone that Alphonse Bird Jr. has no complaints about these homes!” But another statement was more heartwarming. After more that a month of living in the home one family had only a large carton for the young son to play in as furniture in the living room. The father had this to say, “we’ve had lots of people offer to give us furniture but we are living in a new home for the first time and we will wait until we can put new furniture into it!”
Tenants were selected from hundreds of applicants for houses. Income levels and family size were some of the factors used in selection for the tenants. A similar housing project is now in planning stages for others who didn’t make the tenancy list.
Each of the new homes in the community have the following: three bedrooms with ¾ bath off the master bedroom, combination kitchen, dining room, and living room, main bathroom, and utility area with several closets off the back entrance. All homes have a large veranda style front porch with an enclosed log railing leading to a side carport with an eight by twelve foot storage shed with electricity. Five appliances were also part of the construction package.
For more information about Country Estates, please contact Blackfeet Housing at (406) 338-5031.
BLACKFEET NATION
P.O. BOX 850 BROWNING, MONTANA 59417
(406) 338-7521
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
JAY ST. GODDARD – CHAIRMAN
JIMMY ST. GODDARD – VICE CHAIRMAN
GORDON MONROE – SECRETARY
CLIFFOR TAILFEATHERS – ACTING SECRETARY
JOE A. GERVAIS – TREASURER
BLACKBERRY TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL
JAY ST. GODDARD
JIMMY ST. GODDARD
GORDON MONROE
CLIFFORD TAILFEATHERS
FRED GUARDIPEE
EARL OLD PERSON
WILLIAM “ALLEN” TALKS ABOUT
ERVIN C. CARLSON
HUGH MONROE
For Immediate Release
Showcase of Native American Housing in Browning, Montana
Browning Montana:
December 16,2004 saw families move into the new community of Country Estates just in time for Christmas; the project which began just one year from move-in, was ready to accept tenants. Blackfeet Housing is to be congratulated with the “new look” to the community. Log style homes and spacious building lots of almost an acre give the area feeling of warmth and space at the time. This is indeed a “showcase of Native American housing!”
At the January annual meeting of United Native American Housing Association held in Denver, Blackfeet Housing received an award for “significantly reducing the crowded housing situation on the Reservation”. This award was in recognition for the thirty-five houses that comprise the project in Browning and Heart Butte. The Country Estates in Browning consist of twenty-eight homes with an additional seven homes ready for occupancy in Heart Butte.
The entire project with infrastructure services and financing took a long time in planning. Blackfeet Housing executive director, Ray Wilson, made application for Montana Tax Credit funding over two years ago. There have been only three such projects on Montana to date.
In addition to the spacious building lots, the project is unique in several ways. Log style homes have never been a feature of such housing programs; this new approach gives tenants a beautiful, solidly built home that will last for generations. Although each home is built with the same design, the selection of color for exterior walls and roof make each home unusual and distinctive. Most of the tenants interviewed were unaware that their homes were the same.
But the most unique aspect of the homes lies in the fact that most of the construction and materials came from local businesses and residents. Whisper Creek Log Homes with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, provided the exterior shells and porches for the homes but all the rest of the materials, labor and actual design of the homes originated from the reservation. The project provided more than forty jobs over the course of the last year. Through this system, the majority of the Blackfeet Housing funding budget stayed on the reservation.
The concept for the project was a mutual idea created through the efforts of Mr. Jay St. Goddard, then Chairman of Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, the Blackfeet Housing Authority with Mr. Wilson and staff and Whisper Creek Log Homes. This partnership persevered to finally get the housing project into its final stages. Additional landscaping and paving with sidewalks and gutters are scheduled for this summer.
According to a recent tenant survey, residents are overwhelmingly positive about their new homes. Features that received the most attention include the lot size and the log like construction of the houses. One resident is anxious to be able to sit on his porch next summer. Another comment about the storage facility in the carport area was, “it even has a light and electrical outlets!”
The survey received comments such as, “we really enjoy the house, we couldn’t wait to move in,” “we haven’t had a house before, so we are going to take care of it; that is one thing we are adamant about” “no one I know has any serious complaints about these houses.” Signs such as “Stop” and “No Shoes” are evident of the delight and commitment to maintain the environment of the log home community.
Perhaps the most interesting comment received during the survey indicates the joy of living there. “You tell everyone that Alphonse Bird Jr. has no complaints about these homes!” But another statement was more heartwarming. After more that a month of living in the home one family had only a large carton for the young son to play in as furniture in the living room. The father had this to say, “we’ve had lots of people offer to give us furniture but we are living in a new home for the first time and we will wait until we can put new furniture into it!”
Tenants were selected from hundreds of applicants for houses. Income levels and family size were some of the factors used in selection for the tenants. A similar housing project is now in planning stages for others who didn’t make the tenancy list.
Each of the new homes in the community have the following: three bedrooms with ¾ bath off the master bedroom, combination kitchen, dining room, and living room, main bathroom, and utility area with several closets off the back entrance. All homes have a large veranda style front porch with an enclosed log railing leading to a side carport with an eight by twelve foot storage shed with electricity. Five appliances were also part of the construction package.
For more information about Country Estates, please contact Blackfeet Housing at (406) 338-5031.
BLACKFEET NATION
P.O. BOX 850 BROWNING, MONTANA 59417
(406) 338-7521
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
JAY ST. GODDARD – CHAIRMAN
JIMMY ST. GODDARD – VICE CHAIRMAN
GORDON MONROE – SECRETARY
CLIFFOR TAILFEATHERS – ACTING SECRETARY
JOE A. GERVAIS – TREASURER
BLACKBERRY TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL
JAY ST. GODDARD
JIMMY ST. GODDARD
GORDON MONROE
CLIFFORD TAILFEATHERS
FRED GUARDIPEE
EARL OLD PERSON
WILLIAM “ALLEN” TALKS ABOUT
ERVIN C. CARLSON
HUGH MONROE
February 10, 2004
To Whom It May Concern:
The Blackfeet Tribe wishes to submit this letter of recommendation on behalf of Whisper Creek, a Canadian construction firm promoting log home products. The Blackfeet Tribe has recently contracted with this firm to build thirty homes on a tax credit project under the direction of Blackfeet Housing Authority. As of this date ten homes have been constructed.
Whisper Creek has been an excellent company to work with. They have not only been available to assist in every phase of construction, but has also been extremely supportive of community activities and economic development projects.
The company products gives low income housing a new, more modern look, which allows tenants to take pride in their home. This new concept in housing has opened many avenues of low income housing, thanks to Whisper Creek. I highly recommend Whisper Creek for any type of construction, whether it be commercial or residential.
I will be happy to answer any questions regarding Whisper Creek and their log home products at your convenience. You may contact me at (406) 338-7276 for further information.
Respectfully,
Jay St. Goddard, Chairman
Blackfeet Tribal Business Council
BLACKFEET HOUSING
To Whom It May Concern:
The Blackfeet Tribe wishes to submit this letter of recommendation on behalf of Whisper Creek, a Canadian construction firm promoting log home products. The Blackfeet Tribe has recently contracted with this firm to build thirty homes on a tax credit project under the direction of Blackfeet Housing Authority. As of this date ten homes have been constructed.
Whisper Creek has been an excellent company to work with. They have not only been available to assist in every phase of construction, but has also been extremely supportive of community activities and economic development projects.
The company products gives low income housing a new, more modern look, which allows tenants to take pride in their home. This new concept in housing has opened many avenues of low income housing, thanks to Whisper Creek. I highly recommend Whisper Creek for any type of construction, whether it be commercial or residential.
I will be happy to answer any questions regarding Whisper Creek and their log home products at your convenience. You may contact me at (406) 338-7276 for further information.
Respectfully,
Jay St. Goddard, Chairman
Blackfeet Tribal Business Council
BLACKFEET HOUSING
January 10, 2005
Energy Report for Limited Partnership #2
Roy Nolkamper of Glacier Electric contact the DEQ requesting and energy investigation for the first of a series of approximately 25 new houses built in the Browning site location. The investigation was conducted under the DEQ Energy Efficiency In Field Services Program for builder and subcontractors.
Paul Tschida of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) conducted a blower door and infrared (IR) investigation and flow hood measurement of this house on August 4, 2004. Utility representatives from Glacier Electric Coop.
The blower test reading was 3.35 ACH 50 (Air changes per hour at 50 Pascal). Very tight houses test at less than 2 ACH 50 and very leaky houses test above 10 ACH 50. From Paul’s observations, the typical new Montana home would have a blower door test reading 4 and 6 ACH 50.
The Northwest Energy Star Home Program requires that 2.5 ACH 50 blower door house tightness for electrically heated homes.
General Observations of Paul Tschida:
Box 449
Browning, Montana 59417
bha@3rivers.net
Phone (406) 338-5031 – Fax (406) 338-3873
Energy Report for Limited Partnership #2
Roy Nolkamper of Glacier Electric contact the DEQ requesting and energy investigation for the first of a series of approximately 25 new houses built in the Browning site location. The investigation was conducted under the DEQ Energy Efficiency In Field Services Program for builder and subcontractors.
Paul Tschida of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) conducted a blower door and infrared (IR) investigation and flow hood measurement of this house on August 4, 2004. Utility representatives from Glacier Electric Coop.
The blower test reading was 3.35 ACH 50 (Air changes per hour at 50 Pascal). Very tight houses test at less than 2 ACH 50 and very leaky houses test above 10 ACH 50. From Paul’s observations, the typical new Montana home would have a blower door test reading 4 and 6 ACH 50.
The Northwest Energy Star Home Program requires that 2.5 ACH 50 blower door house tightness for electrically heated homes.
General Observations of Paul Tschida:
- The house was very well designed and built.
- Ductwork in crawlspace was sealed with duct tape. Because of duct tape limited life (usually 2-3 years) duct mastic is recommended for duct sealing. One gallon of the mastic was left at this house. Information on duct sealing is referred to on pages 10 & 11 in Montana Energy Saver Guidebook.
- No vents to the exterior were noted in the crawlspace.
- The infrared (IR) scan showed the home is well insulated.
Box 449
Browning, Montana 59417
bha@3rivers.net
Phone (406) 338-5031 – Fax (406) 338-3873