Copyright © 2004 NLThomas
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News from Cherokee Nation
Copyright © 2004 CNO
STILLWELL, OKLAHOMA – Cherokee Nation will receive an additional $2.1 million for Indian Housing for low-income families. The monies from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are from the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA).
Sitting L to R: Marvin Jones, group leader of community services for the Cherokee Nation, Wilma P. Mankiller, former Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Charlie Soap, Cindy Soap, chairman of the self-help committee. Front Row standing
L to R : Richard Stahl, Mary Soap, Brenda Locust, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, Micheal Bird. Back Row standing L to R: Wayne Simms, HUD and Jerry Efurd, USDA.
Cherokee Nation receives funding for Native American housing through HUD based on a formula for all tribes. This additional $2.1 million is a recompense, resulting from an under funding error that spanned from 1998 to 2004.
Cherokee Nation will receive a lump sum of $2.1 million in 2004. Thereafter an additional $350,000 a year will be granted to Cherokee Nation from HUD. Money received will be put into the 2004 Indian Housing plan for home improvements and to build additional homes through NAHASDA.
The funding from HUD is proposed to help Cherokee Nation self-help projects. The self-help projects will be modeled after a current demonstration project being built in Adair County. The current project includes 20 homes for low-income families.
The month of June was declared National Home Ownership month by President George W. Bush. On behalf of President Bush, Brent Kisling, state director for United States Department of Agriculture, attended the dedication of Cherokee Nation’s self-help project at Stilwell, Okla. The project was dedicated to the late Johnson Soap of the Oak Ridge community, whom helped to bring the communities together in Adair County to begin the project. Families working on the homes in this community dubbed the project “Our Generation.”
“We are highlighting our top projects and “Our Generation” is one of those premiere projects that President Bush wishes to recognize,” Kisling said. “This project is a little different than most projects that President Bush wants to recognize, since it is the first time for us to work with a tribe.”
Wayne Sims, administrator for the office of Native American programs for HUD, also attended the dedication ceremony.
“This project is really impressive, I have seen a sense of pride and community togetherness in this project,” Sims said. “We are happy to be a small part of the idea for this project.”
Cherokee Nation’s self-help project is geared toward families with low-incomes, inadequate housing and those willing to work to do their part in receiving a home through NAHASDA. Families that are approved to receive homes are included throughout the entire process of the project from purchasing land to building the homes. Families that receive homes must work together to build every home included in the project. Families are taught how to measure and construct a home from beginning to end.
“This project is an excellent example of how Cherokee people can work together to make something positive come about,” said Jackie Bob Martin, Cherokee Nation District 2 council member.
| Related contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |
