Affordable Housing for Urban Native Americans
Shelly Tucciarelli, Visionary Ventures, Chicago

4/30/24, 12:30-1:45 PM

One of the most marginalized communities yet a vibrant part of Chicago’s landscape, the Native American community has struggled with homelessness and a lack of affordable housing since the Indian Relocation Act of 1956.  While many returned to the reservations, those that remained in Chicago lived in poverty, poor health, homelessness, and a loss of connection to tribal and cultural identities.  Focusing on case studies and the history of Urban Native Americans in the Chicagoland area, we will discuss community engagement and the design/development process that seeks to enhance the connection to tribal and cultural identities while providing trauma informed designed housing for a vastly underserved and historically ill-treated community.

Speaker: Shelly Tucciarelli has over 30 years of experience in management, training, administration and development of affordable housing and community development. A Native American tribal member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, she owns Turtle Clan Development Services, providing real estate development and affordable housing consulting services in Indian Country nationwide. As Executive Director of Visionary Ventures NFP Corporation (VVNFP), Shelly is working with Native American community members in the Chicagoland area to advocate and promote affordable housing and provide opportunities for jobs and services. She previously administered the State of Illinois’ Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and State donation tax credit (STC) programs. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Governors State University and an MBA in Real Estate Finance and Investment from DePaul University.