LOCAL NEWS

Volunteers Shore Up Homes For Navajo Homeowners

Jul 11, 2018, 10:00 PM | Updated: 10:36 pm

NAVAJO NATION, Utah – The wind whips across the Navajo Nation in Utah and rips apart the homes.

For 18 years, the state of Utah and dozens of volunteers have helped families fortify their homes against the harsh winds, sandstorms and blistering sun.

In an exclusive tour, KSL-TV saw how those weatherization upgrades are changing lives and helping Navajo families.

“The wind here gets really brutal,” said Sadie Silas, a Navajo woman who has lived in her home on the reservation for 50 years with the wind whipping away at the modest, one-story structure.

“It would leak through the crevices of the house and it would get bad.”

That’s what more than 100 Christian youth volunteers with Group Mission Trips discovered when they gathered at the Navajo Nation last month.

“It didn’t look like it was going to last more than two more years before collapsing,” said Billy Zhao, a volunteer from Massachusetts.

Zhao and others from states across the country rolled up their sleeves and fixed roofs, siding and soffits on 17 homes in the Navajo Nation in Utah.

“It was both kind of thrilling and dangerous,” he said of the job. “But, we all know we were doing it for a good cause.”

The volunteers learned valuable carpentry, painting and construction skills while helping strangers upgrade their houses to ward off the worst of the weather.

“It makes you feel much better about what you’re doing and gives you more of a drive to do it faster and more efficiently,” Zhao said.

Homeowners said the summer heat is brutal. The winter cold can be bitter, but when the wind blows, everything is sandblasted. Their roofs and siding take a beating.

Supervisors of the construction said a good roof will last only 10 years on the reservation. The metal roofs they installed can last 30 to 50 years.

“It can make decades worth of difference, up to 20 years difference on the life of the roof,” said Jonathan Hardy, Division Director of Housing and Community Development in the Department of Workforce Services.

“It’s helping them survive, literally,” said Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox.

“They need our help, and that’s who we are,” said Cox.

One homeowner who spoke with Cox during the tour told him she could not afford her electric bill.

“The wind was blowing through her house,” he said. “So, getting some insulation, getting a new roof and getting new windows, now she can afford to live there and raise her four kids.”

“It’s just uplifting,” said Arwa Jafri, a volunteer from California. She and others helped tear down old siding, install new siding and paint it. The work they did helped seal the house for the homeowner.

“The smile on her face just makes it worth it all,” she said. “It’s certainly a community that has some housing needs,” said Hardy.

The state uses federal grants, private donations and volunteer help to make the home upgrades. Utah pays for materials and supervisors.

“We weatherize these homes, make them more sustainable for the future, and lower the energy costs,” said Hardy. “We get a lot of bang for our buck to make sure these homes can last a long time.”

“I think it’s great,” said Raymanda Sam, who got new siding and paint on the house her father built. She said the exterior needed work.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox with Sadie Silas, a Navajo homeowner

“Real bad. It was to the point where you couldn’t see the paint anymore,” she said.

She likes the new color and the weather-proofing.

“I felt like I had to help them,” she said. “So, I went out and helped.”

It’s a program that is changing lives for homeowners and volunteers, said the lieutenant governor.

“They will never be the same because of this experience,” he said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Lori and Chad Daybell in white clothes on a beach in Hawaii...

Eliza Pace

New pieces of evidence shared in Chad Daybell trial including Google searches and a necklace found on Chad Daybell’s property

Testimony in the murder trial of Chad Daybell revealed several pieces of evidence that were not previously shared with the public including google searches and a necklace found on Chad Daybell's property.

48 minutes ago

A Utah Transit Authority Blue Line TRAX train in Midvale, Utah. (KSL TV)...

Larry D. Curtis

Man in wheelchair hit by TRAX train in South Salt Lake

A TRAX train collided with a man in a wheelchair at the Meadowbook Station Friday.

2 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

Remains found, identified as man who went missing in 2019

Police have found the remains of a man who went missing in 2019 in Box Elder County.

4 hours ago

(KSL TV)...

Eliza Pace

Study finds nearly 40% of homeowners don’t believe they could afford their home if buying today

A new study shows 40% of U.S. homebuyers don't believe they could afford their home if they bought it today.

5 hours ago

Emily Jean Nef teaches her boys a lesson on bird migration. (Josh Szymanik, KSL TV)...

Deanie Wimmer

Utah families receive millions of tax dollars for ‘Utah Fits All’ scholarship. Education opportunity or taxpayer subsidy?

Parents of 10,000 Utah students will receive "Utah Fits All' scholarship money for homeschool and private school.

5 hours ago

A South Dakota man already wanted in another state on drug-related charges was recently arrested in...

Pat Reavy, KSL.com

Fugitive flees from southern Utah police at 135 mph, gets caught with drugs

A South Dakota man already wanted in another state on drug-related charges was recently arrested in Utah after allegedly trying to flee from officers and possessing more drugs.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Side view at diverse group of children sitting in row at school classroom and using laptops...

PC Laptops

5 Internet Safety Tips for Kids

Read these tips about internet safety for kids so that your children can use this tool for learning and discovery in positive ways.

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Volunteers Shore Up Homes For Navajo Homeowners