Press release from the Wiyot Tribe:

The Wiyot Tribe, Dishgamu Humboldt Community Land Trust, Travois, Pacific Builders and Raymond James gathered on January 21st to break ground on the construction phase of the Laqilh Hou Daqh (Where the Elders Are) Housing Development in Eureka at 6th and L streets.  The new affordable elders housing development will provide 52 senior apartment units.   This site was awarded to the Tribe through the City of Eureka Parking Lots to Affordable Housing RFP and is expected to be completed in 2027.  

Laqilh Hou Daqh will provide 24 studio bedroom, 20 one bedroom and 8 two-bedroom units.  Community amenities include a community room, commercial kitchen, elders programming space, and above ground green space.

California and our local community have a large and growing elders’ population with increasing housing needs.  This affordable housing development addresses the high cost of living strains on fixed incomes, giving elders affordable options essential for elders.  When elders dedicate most of their income to housing, they often have to cut back on essential food and medical care, causing their health to suffer.  Affordable housing provides better access to medical services, nutrition, and transportation, supporting healthier lifestyles.  Laqilh Hou Daqh offers built-in social networks and wellness activities, combating isolation.  Affordable housing provides stability, protecting against eviction and homelessness, which disproportionately affect older adults.

Living our Values

Dishgamu Humboldt believes in our interconnectedness and pursues projects that will benefit all people in our community as well as the environment.  Laqilh Hou Daqh is being developed on a parking lot, formerly owned by the City of Eureka, fulfilling Dishgamu’s values by developing infill housing on vacant or underused land within existing urban areas, integrating sustainability by reducing sprawl, cutting transportation emissions through walkability, using existing infrastructure efficiently, and incorporating green technologies, offering a key strategy for climate-friendly density and revitalizing communities. By using local contractors, the project provides local living wage jobs.  This project leverages existing services, reduces habitat conversion, and increases affordable housing units with significantly lower overall carbon footprint compared to building in undeveloped areas.  This development aligns with “smart growth” principles by focusing on compact, mixed-use development near transit.