The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas celebrated the completion of 13 new homes for tribal members during a recent ribbon cutting ceremony.
The development includes seven three-bedroom homes and five four-bedroom homes, all constructed between February and June of this year with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.
An additional home, funded through the Indian Housing Block Grant, brings the total to 13 move-in-ready residences located on the northeast side of the new residential area.
This milestone marks the first phase of a five-phase housing initiative on the tribe’s 94-acre development site. Plans are already underway for nine additional homes in the newly named neighborhood, Koasati Oolasi, which means “Coushatta Village.”
“This project has been in the works for a while, and now we have tribal members ready to move into their new homes,” Jerry McKinney, director of the housing authority, said. “It’s exciting and meaningful because these homes are going to families who have waited patiently for this opportunity.”
Tribal Council Chairwoman Cecilia Flores shared the cultural significance of the new neighborhood’s name.
“We acknowledge this area as Koasati Oolasi in honor of the Koasati people who once lived here. Seeing the joy on our members’ faces as they receive their keys makes this moment truly special for the entire tribe,” Flores said.
The tribe originally purchased the 500-acre parcel in 2012, which was placed into trust in 2017. Discussions about a new housing development began shortly thereafter. With guidance from tribal elders, the name Koasati Oolasi was chosen to honor the history and heritage of the land.
