Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing officials meet with Tribal Council members on housing issues.

The Mission statement of the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority is: The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority is committed to providing quality and afford-able housing services to eligible Northern Cheyenne tribal families living on tribal lands

The end of the 2009 Plan year is a continuing era at the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority (NCTHA). The NCTHA had ‘awesome’ years in 2007/2008/2009 with many millions of dollars of additional funding secured. The $4.0 million dollar Tax-Credit rehabilitation project at the Shoulderblade Elderly Complex, a $180,000 ROSS Grant for a Small Business Incubation Center, a $300,000 RHED Grant for Economic Development, a $900,000 Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) for the Weatherization of all the Old Mutual Help houses from Projects 12-01 to 12-04, the $3.6 Million dollars in ARRA/Stimulus funds for the Weatherization of specified Old Mutual Help projects from 12-04 to 12-12’s and funding to install a new waterline from Rabbit Town to the Walking Horse Subdivision, was all funding received from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over these last two years through President Obama’s Stimulus plan. With so much funding for waterline projects, weatherization, economic development and Tax-credits, the lingering question remains; Why isn’t the NCTHA building new houses??

The answer: The NCTHA currently owns and manages 301 low-income rental units and a little over 50-homeownership units located throughout the 5 districts comprising the reservation. All of these homes were developed with funding from the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) through the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. The NCTHA was created pursuant to a Tribal Ordinance in the early 1960s and approximately 800 homes for tribal members were developed through the mid 1990s. Then, in 1996, Congress passed legislation entitled the Native American Housing Assistance & Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) that has had a dramatic effect on the Indian Housing industry.

NAHASDA is a block grant type of funding system where grants are awarded to the Tribe and then to the NCTHA. The transition from the 1937 Housing Act to NAHASDA has been a long and strenuous task and as a result, the NCTHA has been able to develop only 36 new homes since the inception of NAHASDA. Congress has only allocated over $600 million annually in recent years to fund the Indian Housing Block Grant program nationwide to all Indian tribes. The NCTHA receives about $2.7 million annually in grant funds. Again, what’s the problem and why aren’t more new homes being built? Let me explain further;

Before NAHASDA, and under the 1937 Housing Act, HUD basically awarded the NCTHA three different pots of money each year. One pot of money was for managing and maintaining owned and managed homes. Another pot of money was awarded to modernize or rehabilitate owned and man-aged homes, and yet another pot of money was awarded to build new homes. HUD determined how much money was going to be in each pot every year and neither the Tribe nor the NCTHA had much to say about how the funds were to be spent.

Now, all of that has changed under NAHASDA. The NCTHA, working in cooperation with the Tribe, submits an Indian Housing Plan to HUD each year that describes what eligible activities are to be accomplished utilizing IHBG funds. There is now only one pot of HUD funds and it’s the responsibility of the Tribal Council and the NCTHA to prioritize where the money goes. In recent years, most of the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funds have been allocated to maintaining and rehabilitating existing homes. For example, previous Indian Housing Plans included over $1.2 million to rehabilitate “boarded up’ rental units and Mutual Help Homeowner-ship units. NAHASDA requires the NCTHA to allocate adequate funding to manage and maintain the homes that it owns and manages. Therefore, the NCTHA has allocated a majority of its IHBG funds to fix-up many of those vacant or abandoned homes that have fallen into a state of disrepair for various reasons over the past 10- 15 years. Because the NCTHA is required to take care of what it already owns and manages, there simply hasn’t been enough funding from the HUD Block grant system to develop many new homes.

The NCTHA’s 2009 Indian Housing Plan included several different proposals submitted by members of the Tribal Council. One of the issues is the Tribal Council wanted the NCTHA to address is the remaining vacant and abandoned units with Stimulus funds. They also directed the NCTHA to address the very first Mutual Help Projects, with ICDBG funds, located in Busby, that were built in the 1960’s. They agreed that these tribal members, mostly elders, should have a safe and decent place to live. Additionally, much emphasis and a majority of the ARRA/Stimulus and Block Grant funding has been designated to Weatherize more Old Mutual Help Projects and other areas in our communities including more; Street lights, Law Enforcement, Solid Waste, Playgrounds and Economic Development. The Tribal Council proposed that the work to be done on the reservation be contracted out to local independent Cheyenne contractors which will create opportunities for skilled tribal members to start their own businesses. All these activities items were written into the 2009 Indian Housing Plan.

Here is the process in developing this Plan:

• Flyers are sent out through the mail in the NCTHA’s newsletter and hung up in all districts weeks prior to the NCTHA hosting its ‘Indian Housing Plan Meetings’. These meetings are held in each of the five (5) districts and they take place in the Spring of each year. The NCTHA provides a lunch and a dinner and has several members of the staff on hand to answer any and all questions regarding Housing, etc. These meetings take place all day.
• An extensive survey/questionnaire is provided to all community members who attend these meetings. Those individuals sign in and fill out this form and make comments on what they would like to see the NCTHA accomplish in their respective communities in the upcoming Plan Year. Once these meetings are completed, the NCTHA staff com-piles this information into a written format.
• The NCTHA then sets up an ‘Indian Housing Plan’ meeting with all the members of the Tribal Council, Vice-President and President. At that meeting, the surveys/questionnaire’s are reviewed and broken down into categories and rated according to what each individual community’s wants and needs are. The President, Vice-President and Tribal Council members (from their respective districts) select these items of most concern and place those items into the upcoming Indian Housing Plan. All items placed in the plan must meet the criteria of ‘Eligible Activities’ in accordance with NAHASDA.
• The completed Indian Housing Plan is then given to the President and he signs off on it signifying that he approves of the activities that have been written into the NCTHA’s Indian Housing Plan for that year.
• The Indian Housing Plan is then sent to the Denver ONAP office along with other documents in accordance with NAHASDA for their review.
• Once this Indian Housing Plan is reviewed and accepted by HUD, a Grant Agreement is provided to the NCTHA for that plan years funding.
• Once funding is received, the NCTHA has a maxi-mum of 24-months to complete all of the activities written into the Indian Housing Plan for that year.
• Finally, the NCTHA must submit an Annual Performance Report (APR) to HUD reporting on the progress of all the activities written into the previous Indian Housing Plan.

As you can tell by this process, the Tribal Government has a huge say, based on what each community’s needs and wants are, on what is written into the NCTHA’s Annual Indian Housing Plan. Based on the limited funding received through the Annual Block Grant, and based on the Needs Assessments of each community, building New Houses has not been a priority for many of the communities and its members. Taking care of, and improving each individual community, is the biggest priority of our people.

Despite this trend, the NCTHA is currently working on a preliminary plan with USDA Rural Development and Tax-credits on a new project of building up to 40 New Rental Units. This plan has been in the making for the last year and could become a reality as soon as next year.

I hope that this answers the lingering question of ‘Why isn’t the NCTHA building more houses’. If you should have any questions or concerns regarding this, please call me at 477-6419 or stop by and visit. HA-HO

Lafe Haugen, Executive Director

If a tenant fails to stay in compliance, their name will come to my office for a Lease Compliance Review Committee Meeting. In these meetings, we discuss what the Resident Service Specialist has done to get the tenant back into compliance, look at all documentation that is kept and make our recommendation to the Director to Terminate the Dwelling Lease or if other action is necessary to help the Tenant.

As a friendly reminder to all Tenants, it is your responsibility to stay in compliance and to do any and all paperwork that needs to be in your file and to follow all aspects of the dwelling lease. If you do not, then you will be in non-compliance with a signed legal document, the Dwelling Lease, and you may be in jeopardy of losing your home. This is what we here at NCTHA want to avoid, but at times it may be necessary to take action when someone fails to abide by their Dwelling Lease. Therefore, I strongly encourage all of you to please work with your Resident Service Specialist as they want to help you as much as I do. Thank you.

Please call me if you have any questions or concerns at 477-6419 extension 113.

Rent is based on 18% of gross income. A deposit is required. There are a limited amount of 2 or 1 bedroom apartments available first come first choice of available apartments. All apartments have been recently renovated and are like brand new with New appliances in each apartment, tiled bathrooms/walk in show-ers, private entrances, heating and cooling units. There are common rooms in the building—library, conference room, 3 separate laundry rooms and many other features. library and more.

No pets.

Close to Indian Health Service Unit in Lame Deer.

Public Transportation available — Northern Cheyenne Elderly feeding program on site — Night and weekend security — A must see opportu-nity.

Please inquire at the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority, Box 327, Lame Deer, Mt., and ask for Ernie Robinson, Palmeda Fisher, or Fern Standing Water 406-477-641

The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority was again a major co-sponsor for this years Chiefs 4th of July Pow-wow held on July 1, 2, 3 and 4, 2010 at the Kenneth Beartusk Memorial Pow-wow grounds. In addition to helping fund this event, the Housing Authority helped to sponsor the Horseshoe and Softball tournaments along with the annual Fireworks display held on June 30th in downtown Lame Deer.

This year’s pow-wow included appearances from some of the best dancers and Drum groups from all over the United States. This year’s pow-wow committee led by Tribal Councilman, Jace Killsback, put on an excellent event. On the first evening of the Pow-wow, onlookers filled the arena with excitement as they watched dancers „show their stuff‟. Nightly Grand Entry’s filled the arbor with contestants in all categories ranging from the Tiny Tots to the Golden Age division.

There were many people who noted that this was a good Pow-wow hosted by the Northern Cheyenne. There were talks of building the Arbor bigger for the coming years due to the fact that the pow-wow continually gets bigger. JD Old Mouse and Don “Pork Chops” Shoulderblade were the lead MC‟s and kept the audience on their feet the whole weekend with the jokes that only they could tell. The competition was fierce throughout the weekend with new and old Champions being crowned and many contestants walking away with some good payouts. The Singing Contests, Hand Drum contests and Specials contributed to making this year’s pow-wow enjoyable.

Board Chairman Claude Leedom had this to say: ”It was an honor for our program to be able to assist with this year’s festivities. To see all of our fellow Cheyenne who live off the reservation come home to enjoy this event and be around family is what it is all about. Seeing all of our local people with big smiles on their faces starting with the June 30th Fireworks display, and the Gary Small Band performance topping it off, was awesome. It is an honor for our program to be able to contribute in a big way to Community events such as this. I personally want to thank the hard work performed by our Summer youth workers and the NCTHA staff in helping to coordinate this successful event, Without their expertise, this event probably would not have happened. I also want to thank Jace Killsback and the 2010 Pow-wow committee for their dedication to our Cheyenne People in making this Pow-wow a success.”

HA-HO

There are a total of 10 houses which are Manufactured Homes and are a Colorado Style home. The Homebuyer Coordinator would like for any interested individuals or families to stop in and pick up a USDA Rural Development application for Low Income & Moderate Income families. I also have the HUD 184 Loan Guarantee Application for higher Income families. I need to get 10 families ready to occupy these units as soon as possible. For more information call 477-6419, Ext. #122. Thank you.

LATEST NEWS: (June 30, 2010) Congress has passed an extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing dead-line, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623). The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 that have not yet closed. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension. The new closing deadline for eligible transactions is September 30, 2010. There will be no gap between June 30 and the date the president signs the bill into law.

COME ON DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF OUR APARTMENTS and remember that we have moved the elderly feeding from the main building to the double wide at the parking lot. The Montana State Welfare Office is located North of the Housing office.

We are still accepting donations, for the Library, and also would like Donation of a couple of park benches to be placed around the complex.

Hello! My name is Jasmine Milam American Horse, I am 16 and I am calling out to you to share some exciting news! I will be competing for the title of Miss Teen Montana USA.

Have you ever heard of MISS TEEN USA, MISS USA or MISS UNIVERSE pageants? These pageants are owned by Donald Trump and NBC Television. They are the most prestigious pageants in the world. This is a chance of a lifetime for me and I am asking you for your support in this unique opportunity. If I am crowned the new Miss Teen Montana USA, I will represent our great State in the nationally televised MISS USA/MISS Teen Pageant seen on NBC television. I will also represent our community during my reign by making numerous appearances throughout the State of Montana, by helping the community, local businesses and charitable organizations, as well as appearing at special events, grand openings and parades. A sponsorship program is incorporated into the Miss Teen Montana USA pageant. Your sponsorship is tax deductible as an advertising expense. Would you be one of my sponsors as I represent our great community and pursue a life-long dream?

I graduated from Northern Cheyenne Tribal High School as Salutatorian, I was an honor roll student all three years. I was the secretary and treasurer for my senior class, and I have awards for outstanding student in mathematics, science and art. I was a volunteer at NCHS as an office aide, kitchen aide and teacher’s aide. My goal in life is to become a doctor for the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. I am currently enrolled at Chief Dull Knife College as a full-time summer student and I am in a Pre Med program. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Jasmine American Horse