NAHASDA

Bill Ellick, Director
Lana Williams, Secretary
23701 S 655 Road
Grove, OK 74344
(918) 787-5452
Toll Free (866) 787-5842

January 2005

In January, Bill attended the quarterly SPIHA meeting in Catoosa, Oklahoma at the Cherokee Hotel & Casino. The first day was SPIHA’s regular business meeting and the next two days HUD sponsored a consultation meeting. The purpose of the HUD meeting was to get input from Tribes on changes that need to be made to the IHP (Indian Housing Plan), APR (Annual Performance Report) and the ASER (Annual report submitted by ICDBG recipients) and needed changes to forms that are required by HUD. A lot of information was exchanged during the 2 day conference. HUD will now meet with the other five regions for their input. Before any changes can be made all regions must be in agreement. If changes are approved they will take effect in the 2006 funding cycle.

Currently there is one active rental assistance and several available positions open in the $1000 and $1500 categories.

We have one active rehab project going. The Housing Department has four projects that will be served with the 2004 funding. Applicants for these projects have been selected and are waiting final approval.

The Down Payment Assistance program is inactive at this time pending application submission. There are currently four openings available for tribal members.

The Housing Department handed out nine applications in January with two being returned.

February 2005

The Housing Department has had an active month with application intake, inspections and updating files. Bill has been working on environmental requirements and flood plain maps, and Lana has been preparing letters and going over each file checking for insurance information and second mortgage release dates. There was 14 applications handed out and 5 submitted at the Human Resource Building. Applications are handed out from both the Miami and Grove offices.

Rental assistance Program has several openings. Currently there is one tribal member receiving assistance. For more information on rental assistance please contact Bill or Lana in the Housing Department.

Down Payment Assistance has had 2 applications submitted this month with several inquiries about the program. Bill did 1 inspection in Seneca, Mo and that project is pending the Lead Based Paint test and corrections of its findings. The Down Payment Program currently has 4 positions available.

Rehabilitation and Modernization still remains the most popular of the Housing Department programs. As of February 25, 2005 all of the FY 2004 Rehab positions have been filled. These projects will begin as soon as possible. Bill inspected projects in Treece, KS, an existing project in Miami and gathered flood plain maps on a possible project site in Seneca, Mo.

The Seneca-Cayuga Housing Department is currently accepting applications for the BIA HIP program. This program is open to all Native American tribal members living within the Seneca-Cayuga service area. Applications can be picked up at both office locations.

The Housing Department would like to announce to all tribal members that any Rehabilitation and Modernization applications received AFTER February 28, 2005 will be put on the FY 2005 priority waiting list and submitted in the 2005 Indian Housing Plan due July 1, 2005. Approved FY 2005 Rehabilitation projects will not be started until the later part of 2005 or the first part of 2006. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but due to the popularity of this program we have found this to be necessary.

Annual Report 2005

RENTAL ASSISTANCE

The Housing Rental Assistance program has assisted 3 families with rental assistance this year. We have had several families apply for this assistance, for one reason or another either they don’t qualify or the house or apartment won’t meet the housing criteria. There are 7 positions available at this time. Currently the housing program serves only Seneca-Cayuga Tribal members. We are making changes to simplify the applications.

PAYMENT ASSISTANCE

The Housing program has assisted 4 families with the Down Payment program this year, using 2003 and 2004 funding. We are looking forward to assisting 3 families in the future with the 2005 funding. There are several applications on file at this time.

HOUSING REHABILITATION

The Rehabilitation Program has received 3 families this year. Currently we are waiting for sealed bids to be received on 2 projects for the FY 2004 funding. One other project is in the process of being let out for sealed bids, another is pending at this time.

The housing program has been busy taking in applications and doing numerous housing inspections throughout the year. The housing staff has attended several workshops and meetings in various areas including the 4 required SPIHA meetings. Due to the lead base paint requirements and houses built before 1978 houses and apartments are hard to find for the applicants eligible for assistance. At this time we are looking at other sources of funding to help with the housing needs in this community. Our 2005 Indian Housing Plan is due July 1, 2005 and will be submitting it the first week of June, approval should come sometime around September 2005.

At the present time a total of 173 Indian families have been served by the NAHASDA program, which includes Fiscal Years 98-99-2000-2001-2002-2003-2004.