The Straw Bale Home Ownership Project is a process to create low-cost, energy efficient, sustainable housing on Indian reservations as well as committed, responsible, educated homeowners. Families are involved directly in the fundraising, financing, planning, design, building and repair of the home from start to finish. To qualify, a family must volunteer at the Center Pole Foundation and accrue hours on community development projects. In most cases, the energy savings alone will cover the home loan.

Eighty-five percent of housing on the Crow Reservation is substandard, and only one percent is individually owned. The Center Pole's quest for affordable, energy-efficient, self-build housing began in 1999. Since then, three straw-bale buildings have been built with progressive modifications to meet the needs, resources, and limitations of reservation living.

These homes, built one-by-one, will be started in Spring 2005. For more information, contact Dan Kelly, 703.212.0392, dmkelly01@comcast.net. A DVD is available if you are interested in helping a family to build their own home.