MOUNTAIN HOME -- Fifteen housing units on the Mountain Home Air Force Base are being moved to Ely, Nevada, beginning Thursday to assist members of the Ely-Shoshone Tribe.
Operation Walking Shield is collaborative program with the U.S. Air Force created to address overcrowding and homelessness on Indian reservations.
So far, Waking Shield has provided more than 1,000 housing units to over 6,000 American Indians on reservations in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
“This cost-efficient effort supplies quality, safe housing for our Native Americans while eliminating the demolition and waste management burden for the military,” said Elfie Stoehr, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron Housing Manager.
Staging of the houses for transportation began this month. The contractor responsible for the transportation of the homes, U.S. Modular Group Inc., expects to have all 15 houses moved within a month.
The houses will be loaded onto the trucks Thursday and movement will begin Friday morning.
