Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority will strive to provide safe, sanitary and affordable housing, decrease homelessness and increase affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities through the provisions of supportive services and financial assistance programs. We will consider the wants and needs of low-income members and address them to upgrade housing conditions on the reservation and within the Tribe’s approved service area. Provide maximum assistance to all members.
The Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority Office opened March 5, 2001.Our two
staff persons have over 40 years of combined experience in mortgage lending and
mortgage loan programs. They are responsible for assisting tribal members to
prequalify and obtain mortgages from financial institutions. A tribal
member who currently owns a home cannot receive assistance to purchase another
home, until they sell the home currently owned. Any home
being purchased has to be the tribal members primary residence, at the time the
assistance is received. All tribal members are eligible for
assistance regardless of their income level. Our Mortgage Finance Assistance
Program provides assistance for down payment and closing cost for any enrolled
tribal members 18 years of age or over. The allocated amount of assistance is
up to $5,000.00, if needed. If less than $5,000.00 is needed, the applicant
will only receive the down payment and/or closing cost amount being requested
by the lending institution. No tribal member will receive any MFA assistance
funds paid directly to him or her. All funds are paid directly to the title
company, closing attorney, or other closing agent. Funds are disbursed by check
or wire transfer. The closing agent will return any unused portion of the down
payment and/or closing cost funds to the Housing Authority. In an effort to
provide maximum assistance, our service has been designated as the continental
United States, whereby allowing us to provide Mortgage Finance Assistance to tribal
members located within all 50 states.
Any tribal member attempting to purchase a home should contact the Housing
Authority prior to initiating the mortgage loan process with a lending
institution. There are certain requirements that must be met prior to receiving
down payment and/ or closing cost assistance. Failure to do so could result in
not being eligible for assistance.
TYPES OF FUNDING
We currently have three funds that we use to assist our members in providing
down payment and/or closing cost assistance. Regarding Home Repairs & Remodeling Assistance, we
currently do not have any programs in existence at this time. In the future we
hope to develop programs to assist our members in this area.
NAHASDA FUNDS
The Housing Authority utilizes these federal funds to assist members in the
very low, and low-income levels. NAHASDA income stipulate that a single member
household cannot exceed $30,450, two family household $34,800, three family
household $39,150 and a four member household $43,500 dollars. Any tribal
household that exceeds four family members should contact the Housing Authority
regarding income limits. Any tribal member utilizing these funds is required to
obtain Homebuyer Education Training prior to a loan closing. All enrolled tribal
members 18 yrs. of age or over, are eligible for this assistance if income
requirements are met. First time homebuyers or tribal members who are selling a
current home to construct or acquire another home can utilize these funds.
Funds are allocated as one-time assistance towards the purchase or construction
of a home. The maximum amount of assistance is allocated at up to $5,000.00 if
needed. Each tribal member will only receive the amount required by the
financial institution, not to exceed $5,000.00
TRIBAL FUNDS
These funds are allocated by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council and are utilized
to assist those tribal members who exceed the income limits stipulated by
NAHASDA. Eligibility requirements are the same as stipulated by the other two
above-mentioned funding sources. Elders are not eligible for this assistance.
REFINANCE ASSISTANCE FUND
This fund in the amount of $25,000 was set up by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal
Council to assist those tribal members with higher interest rate mortgage
loans, in refinancing to reduce the high interest rates. To be eligible for
assistance the tribal member has to drop 2% from the rate being charged on
their current mortgage loan. (Example: Loan @
10% dropping to rate of 8%). The amount of assistance is allocated at an amount
of up to $3,000.00, if needed. These funds can be utilized to cover closing
cost; principal reduction and interest rate buy downs. This is also a one-time
assistance. Tribal members will be required to meet the qualifying criteria of
the financial institution that will be reducing the rate as well as refinancing
the mortgage. The Housing Authority must be included in the loop with the
financial institutions to insure all Policies and Procedure are adhered to. No
funding will be issued to a tribal member. All checks will be made out to the
financial institution.
Emergency assistance is available to tribal members that meet the criteria
according to the policy. If you
feel that your housing problem meets the policies guidelines. Please contact
the Housing Authority.
GENERAL INFORMATION Updated
10/31/2005
*We
currently have one lease purchase tribal member that has started the process to
purchase her Lease Purchase home.
* We have
awarded the construction contract to build one Lease Purchase home to Mac
Normand on 9-6-2005.Construction will begin on 10/31/2005.
*We have one tribal member building his own home with another contractor.
*The Charter Cable Company has installed lines in the new subdivision that will allow members to get cable TV for their home.
*The Housing authority will assist any
tribal member in finding a contractor or purchasing material in having a home
built on the reservation. Any tribal member that is considering building a new
home should contact the Housing Authority, we might be able to assist in
getting you cheaper material cost.
*All closing, down payments or refinancing assistance will only be paid to the financial institution at the closing. No funds will be paid to a tribal member after a closing. Any unused funds must be returned back to the Housing Authority.
*Homebuyer’s Education Training is available to all tribal members through PMI Inc. All aspects of this training can be conducted using your home telephone. (Call Housing Authority for details.)
*The Housing Authority is currently working with a HUD representative to get the state of Texas approved to do a Section 184 loan. We will be working with the Alabama Coushatta Tribe also and submit a joint proposal for the state to be approved. This will allow our members to be able to obtain a Section 184 loan any where in the state of Texas.
*We have found a way to do the Section 184 loan program throughout the US. Bank2 of Oklahoma will do the 184 program and is owned by the Chickasaw tribe.
*A gate has been installed at the back of the mobile home subdivision. It is opened only in the morning and afternoon for the school bus to go thru. This should help hold down all the unnecessary traffic through our reservation.
*The Housing Authority budget for 2006 was restored by congress. We will be funded at least the same as 2005 budget.
*The Housing Authority is again trying to get an apartment complex project started. We feel that there is a justifiable need in our area. We are currently searching for land for the project.
*A cover over the mail boxes on the reservation is waiting the awarding of the contract.
*We current have two new boards member on our Board of Commissioners. They are Bobby Pierite and Kathleen Ubnoske. We will be electing new officers at the next monthly Board meeting.
*The Housing Authority was awarded 425,000 dollars from HUD to assist Hurricane tribal members.
*We will be obtaining 4 FEMA trailers to set up in the mobile home park to provide housing to tribal members displaced from the Hurricanes.
We are hosting the fall SPIHA conference from 11-8-2005 thru 11-10-2005.
*Kathleen Ubnoske will be attending the Legal Symposium in Reno Nevada in December.
ˇApplication forms for assistance are available below under the form tab. Click on forms.
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click here to view pictures of new Heritage Villa houses
submitted by The Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority