NAYA Family Center is focused on providing a continuum of housing options for all members our community through the work of our Community Development office.

In 2009 we prevented a collection of low-income housing units from being lost in a bureaucratic shuffle, and named it “Sawash,” a fully-occupied collection of 44 units of low-income housing in North Portland.

In 2011, we completed construction on Kah San Chako Haws, a 9-unit, LEED Gold-certified modular housing development in the Lents Neighborhood, whose name means “East House” in Chinook Jargon.

The Generations Project, opened in February 2017 at the old Foster School site at SE 85th & Steele St.

Nesika Illahee, a collaboration between the Native American Youth and Family Center, the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, Community Development Partners, and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is currently accepting applications. Construction on this 59-unit housing project in the Cully Neighborhood in Northeast Portland is projected to be finished in December 2019. Tenants moved in January 2020.

Another development project in the Cully Neighborhood is a collaboration between NAYA, Community Development Partners (CDP), and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (Siletz).  Mamook Tokatee, a four-story podium building that will include 56 units, translates from the Chinook Wawa phrase for “make beautiful,” a fitting name for the development that will provide housing, studio, and display space for members of Portland’s dynamic Native American artist community.

NAYA’s third affordable housing development in Portland’s Cully Neighborhood, Hayu Tilixam, meaning Many Nations in the Chinook language, added 50 new affordable housing units to NAYA’s portfolio. NAYA and the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) will partner to provide services to all residents. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held December 13, 2022, welcoming the community home for the holidays.