TRIBE FUNDS NEW RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAM.
What is the program?
The Department of Community Development was granted enough funds to purchase between five and six existing homes on the Reservation during the 2010 year. These homes give DCD the ability to offer another housing alternative to Tribal members who may not qualify for HUD housing options. These homes will be offered and rentals and will be available on a month to month contract.
Who is eligible?
All tribal members 18 and over are eligible.
How much do the homes rent for?
We rent the homes for about 75% of market rate
Is this a HUD funded program?
This is not a HUD program, tribal revenue from our businesses is funding the program.
Why was the program created?
We have a significant housing shortage on the reservation, and we have tribal member needs that other programs do not cover. We have more and more tribal members who do not qualify for HUD housing due to the fact that wages on the reservation are increasing, yet many citizens do not make enough money to purchase homes on the open market. Not everyone wants to live in “tribal housing”. Some people don’t want to be tied down they just want to rent month to month. Many people waiting for housing are single or have a significant other and the Tribe has traditionally not built housing for single individuals or families comprised of two household members.
How do I sign up to be considered for a rental unit?
Just come in to the DCD office and fill out an application or give us a call and one will be mailed to you.
How is it determined who gets the house?
DCD is currently working with the Housing Board as well as Tribal Council to implement policies regulating the program. Tribal Council makes the final decision.
Will you be doing criminal background checks, credit checks and landlord references?
The simple answer is yes. However, consideration on who qualifies for a rental home is not based solely on these checks and references.
What if I have something in my past that may show up on one of those checks?
The mission of the Department of Community Development is to house our Tribal citizens. We will work with you on any issues. Any negative information that shows up on one of these checks will neither disqualify you nor automatically make you ineligible for a rental home.
Annual Housing Inspections
Submitted by Peg Deam
Our HUD (Housing and Urban Development) representatives will be coming to Suquamish
soon. They will select, at random, several homes to visit. They are auditing the Suquamish
Tribe and reporting their findings. This means they will be checking on homes to see if
they are safe and provide a healthy environment for our families. They are particularly interested
in safety issues in the yards and surrounding property. Please remember, the
Suquamish Tribe is still responsible for the land and we are making efforts to get our communities
healthy and safe.
As you may have noticed there are a few unwanted vehicles now removed from the communities.
As an additional service we are also planning scrap metal removal. This will begin
in a few weeks. All metal needs to be placed at curb-side and if you would like to contact
the salvage crew on your own here is their number, this is at no cost to you; M&M
Salvage And Clean-Up, 360-271-3480, or 360-871-8675, mmsalvage@hotmail.com.
2008/2009 HUD Low Income Homes
Submitted by Kim Kumpf
Congratulations!!! Please welcome the 4 new families in Wee Wun:
Nigel & Albie Lawrence
Misty and Isreal Castaneda-Ortiz
Chris & Shannon Puckett
William & Autumn Werbelo
“New” HUD Obama Stimulus Funds 2009 & 2010
We were awarded funds to build 6 more homes at Wee Wun, and a Playground. We were awarded funds to build 1 elders family home, 1 Elders duplex, rehabilitating the Elders community lodge, and adding in street lights and sidewalks in the Elders complex. If you have not updated your application for the 2009 year, to be eligible for this next round of homes, I encourage you to get them in soon.
If you’re unsure if your application is complete for 2009 please give us a call. We have a few applications
that are incomplete and have quite a bit that have not been updated for a year or longer.
NOTE: Housing applications MUST be updated each calendar year to calculate and update your points and eligibility for low income housing. It’s up to you to be diligent to update yourapplication each year. Your original application date always stays the same, but your update determines if you’re eligible for the new homes each year as we build them.
Down Payment Assistance
Each year the Tribal Council sets aside $10,000 for 10 people totaling $100,000 to use as down payment assistance to:
1. Purchase an existing home in Kitsap County
2. Build a home in Kitsap County
3. Purchase a Manufactured Home in Kitsap County
4. To Re-finance your home in Kitsap County
NOTE: You must complete financial approval through a conventional bank or Credit unions based on your credit, income, and complete a Down Payment Assistance application with all the documents completed and submitted to the Suquamish Housing Program.
Congratulations to these new home Owners who have used our Down Payment Assistance program:
Irene & Shawn Carper
Jennifer & Brady Hess
Bryan & Julia Gladstone
Ignacio (Junior) Santos
Bill Webber
Wade Williams
WOULD YOU LIKE A HOME? BUT...
1. I make too much to qualify for a low income tribal home
2. I’m not sure how to go about getting a conventional bank or credit union loan.
3. I don’t know if I have the credit to buy a home
4. I don’t have credit or my credit is bad. I don’t know where to begin to see if I can buy a home on my own.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Every time you apply for a credit card and are rejected it’s a negative hit on your credit
2. You should review your credit history before you begin to apply for any kind of credit
3. There are ways to clean up your credit, but ultimately you need time and positive payment history to make your score go up.
4. Creating a budget and following it can get you closer to a new home purchase. These days RENT is higher than a monthly payment on a home.
To purchase a home we want to review the credit report first to see if your credit is well enough to go through for funding prior to applying to any financial institutions. Call Kim for more information 360-394-8419.