Choctaw Nation Offers a Variety of Housing and Rental Assistance
By Kendra Germany
Choctaw Nation
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma offers many different services for the benefit of its people. One of those services is The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Housing Authority.
According to Tracy Archey, Service Coordination Director for the Housing Authority, the Housing Authority is here to assist tribal members in their efforts to adequately meet their housing needs.
“The mission of the Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation is to provide the Choctaw people with the opportunity for decent, safe, and sanitary housing while building stronger, healthier communities and promoting economic independence for our clientele,” said Archey.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Housing Authority’s mission is achieved through the several services that are available through the Housing Authority in Hugo.
There are many services available to the Choctaw people and others living within the 10.5 county service area, including programs that assist elders.
Independent Elder Sites offer a total of 121 one-bedroom units across the Choctaw Nation service area. Sites are located in Poteau, Hartshorne, Talihina, Calera, Hugo, Idabel and Stigler.
Applicants and/or spouse must be 55 years or older, have some form of income, pass an OSBI and local background check and have a CDIB and Tribal Membership card. Maximum income for family of one or two must meet the HUD established income limits in order to qualify as well. Rent is based off of 15 percent of total household yearly income. Amenities inside the units include a refrigerator, stove and energy star rated washer and dryer.
Elders can also qualify for the 202 Supportive Housing for elders. 202 Supportive Housing is a partnership with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to serve Native American and non-Native Americans 62 years and over. This program offers one-bedroom apartment units across the 10.5 county service area. Sites are located in Poteau, Atoka, Calera, Hugo and Idabel. Applicants and/or spouse must pass a federal and local background check and meet the HUD established income limits. Amenities on each site include a common area building with a safe room inside.
Elders are not the only ones who have the op- portunity to benefit from the services the Housing Authority offers. The Choctaw Nation Affordable Rental Housing Properties are comprised of seven housing communities within the Choctaw Nation service area. They are located in Bokoshe, Caney, Quinton, Red Oak, Wright City, and Talihina. Applicants must have a CDIB card and some form of income. All applicants, their spouse and/ or children over the age of 18, must pass an OSBI and local background check to qualify. Applicant’s income per number of family composition must meet the HUD established income limits, in order to qualify as well. Rent is based off of 15 percent of total household yearly income.
Home Financial Services are also available. Homeowners Financial Services offer qualified members of federally recognized tribes the opportunity to purchase, construct, rehab, or refinance a home through its home loan products and counseling services. In addition to the numerous direct loan products, conventional, Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veteran Affairs (VA), and Native American 184 loans are available through participating lending partners.
The Choctaw Home Buyer Advantage Program (CHAP) offers loans to eligible members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma nationwide with no income ceiling limits. The member qualifies for a mortgage according to credit and debt ratios. The amount of assistance for the CHAP down payment and closing costs are determined by underwriting guidelines of the participating lending partners. It is also determined by other purchase variables that include loan-to-value ratio and sale price.
The Choctaw Homeowners Lending Services offers direct loans to eli- gible borrowers that reside in the 10.5 county service area, who otherwise may not be able to qualify for a secondary market loan through other institutions. Borrowers must be mem- bers of federally recognized tribes, with a household income that does not exceed 80 percent of the National Median Income level. Preference is given to members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Types of loans offered include new construction, purchasing existing homes, rehabilitation, home improvement, energy efficiency/weatherization, affordable development and refinancing of existing home loans.
The Choctaw Homeowners Support Services offers a comprehensive menu of support services to eligible tribal member families wanting to pur- chase, repair, rehabilitate, or improve existing homes or building a new home. To be eligible, you must be a member of a federally recognized tribe, residing in the 10.5 county service area. Preference is given to members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Eligible qualified tribal families can finance the complete construction cost of their home, the purchase of the land and site im- provements.
The knowledgeable Choctaw Homeowner Services Team can assist each family through every step of the process to purchase, repair, rehabilitate, or improve an existing home or construction of a new home and site development.
The Housing Authority is also responsible for the Choctaw Nation Storm Shelter Program. The Choctaw Nation Storm Shelter Grant Program is administered through the Choctaw Nation Housing Authority, and provides storm shelters to eligible Choctaw Tribal Members who live in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. These are states with a high risk of tornados.
Applications will be processed on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Choctaw Nation Storm Shelter Grant Program is dependent upon availability of funds. Storm shelters shall be provided as grants for eligible applicants who meet the qualifications. Applicants must be 55 years and over, or must have a documented ambulatory disability.
Storm shelters are awarded one time only. A storm shelter may be installed in a new or existing home. The storm shelter must be installed at primary residences and must be installed on property owned by the applicant. Those owning two or more homes are only eligible for a storm shelter for their primary residence. Only one person may register per physical address. Those that live in mobile homes, must own both the mobile home itself and the land it is located on to be eligible for the program. Only single-family residential homeowners are eligible for their primary residence. Those that live in a rented house are not eligible for this program. Apartment complexes, duplexes, and other multi-family residences are not eligible for this program, as they are considered a business. Community or neighborhood storm shelters are not eligible for this rebate.
Homeowners rehabilitation services are also offered through the Housing Authority.
The Choctaw Homeowners Rehabilitation Services assists with emergency repairs and rehabilitation to homes that are owned by tribal member families residing in the 10.5 county service area.
The overall goal for these services is to assist as many tribal member families as available annual funding permits, with their efforts to protect their home’s long-term viability and create a decent, safe, and sani- tary living environment.
Applications for assistance can be obtained by contacting the Housing Authority, or be picked up at any Choctaw Nation Field Office. To be eligible for assistance, applicants must be members of a federally recognized tribe with a household income that does not exceed 80 percent of the National Median Income level. Priority is given to eligible families that are lowest income, elderly, have verifiable disabilities, and members of the Choctaw Nation.
Rental Assistance is available to eligible tribal families who reside in the 10 1/2 county service area. To be eligible, applicants must be members of a federally recognized tribe with a household income that does not exceed 80 percent of the National Median Income level and provide required documentation. Preference is given to elders and members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Homeless Emergency Shelter assistance has the same eligibility criteria as rental assistance. Preference is given to members of the Choctaw Nation.
For more information on all of the available programs and services provided by the Choctaw Nation Housing Authority call (800)235-3087 or (580)326-7521.