Oneida Indian Nation unveils affordable-housing complex for new employees

VERONA, N.Y. — The Oneida Indian Nation will welcome the first residents on July 1 to its new employee housing units, called The Villages at Stoney Creek.

It’s part of a recruiting strategy to provide affordable-housing options to new employees. The apartments address the housing shortage as the Oneida Indian Nation seeks to fill slots in its ever-expanding workforce. The apartments are available for new employees in full-time, hourly, non-management positions.

The Oneida Indian Nation is currently targeting individuals relocating to the area to work at one of its enterprises in areas of critical shortage, which includes cooks, casino dealers, hotel operations, custodial, and more.

The Villages at Stoney Creek contains 50 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with rents of $550, $650, and $750, respectively. Amenities include in-unit laundry, reserved parking spaces, green spaces and picnic tables, and complimentary shuttle service to and from Turning Stone’s main campus.

The first two buildings will open at the start of July, with three more buildings ready for tenants by September.

“The Oneida people have always emphasized the importance of hospitality and warmly welcoming all to our homelands,” Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter said in a statement. “This new investment in our workforce presents a wonderful opportunity for us to create additional jobs, bring new people to our region, and provide affordable housing for the individuals who support the success of our enterprises.”

As the largest employer in Oneida and Madison counties, with more than 4,000 employees currently and plans to reach 4,500 employees by year’s end, The Oneida Indian Nation expects The Villages at Stoney Creek to be just the first phase of employee-housing development.