The Citizen Potawatomi Nation, a federally recognized tribe, having a government-to-government relationship with the United States, receives funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA).
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Housing Department oversees a wide variety of responsibilities in its mission to provide Native Americans living in the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal jurisdiction with decent, safe and sanitary housing. Staff under Director Scott George operate low-income housing properties while also managing programs that provide either down payment/closing cost assistance and/or Home Purchase Mortgage Buy-Down for eligible members that meet all eligibility requirements.
Lease with the Option to Purchase
The CPN Housing Department has two homeownership programs aimed at putting eligible Citizen Potawatomi on the path to owning a new home. The first program is the Lease with the Option to Purchase program with a strict three-year leasehold and will get the applicant into a house sooner so they can experience all the accompanying responsibilities.
The Lease with the Option to Purchase Program is designed to help teach the skills of owning a new home by making the tenants meet a series of responsibilities over the course of the three-year agreement. Income proof and ongoing financial education courses are two main program requirements, while residents will largely be responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of their properties.
Some Eligibility Requirements
- Program entrance will be determined by:
- Tribal enrollment
- Income eligibility
- Credit, bankruptcy and rental history
- Provable employment security
- First-time homebuyers only
Income and credit evaluation
CPN Housing Department will run a credit report to evaluate the applicant’s readiness to enter the program. The applicants will be informed of their immediate status and eligibility for the program.
We are currently building a waiting list for future housing units.
Home Purchase Mortgage Buy-Down Program
In addition, we offer the Home Purchase Mortgage Buy-Down Program for Tribal members ready to purchase immediately. This program requires you to mortgage your home loan with the Tribally-owned Sovereign Bank. This is a 10-year soft second mortgage on said home that is paid in time of occupancy not money. Because this program is government funded there are several requirements that must be adhered to for eligibility.
Some Eligibility Requirements
Program entrance will be determined by:
- Tribal citizenship
- Income eligibility
- Credit, bankruptcy and rental history, must be credit worthy
- Provable employment security
- Must not have used our New Construction, Acquisition, Lease with Option to Purchase, or Home Purchase Mortgage Buy-Down Programs before
- Home must be in the CPN jurisdiction and meet all environmental criteria
Additional resources
Furthermore, our department is also offering financial, budgeting and credit education, and referrals for those that are interested in or need this assistance and/or direction to attain their homeownership goals.
We are very pleased to introduce HUD Certified Housing Counselor Kaua Puaoi. If you would like any assistance with your financial goal setting, please contact her. We hope that you take full advantage of Kaua’s knowledge and direction as she will prove to be one of your most valuable resources. Kaua can be reached at 405-273-2833 or by email at [email protected].
For more information on either of the two above mentioned homeownership programs, please feel free to contact Sherry Byers, homeownership manager, at 405-273-2833, or you can email her at [email protected].