"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN-MAP / HACN Offering Home Buying Education & Assistance

TAHLEQUAH, OK — Taking control of your own finances is the first step toward owning your own home. The Cherokee Nation is offering a variety of programs that are geared to assist Native American families achieve their dream of home ownership through educational efforts, financial counseling and assistance with down payments and closing costs for a home.

The Cherokee Nation Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) will provide eligible families up to $15,000 toward the down payment and closing costs of buying a home.

“Through our new programs such as the MAP program, we have been able to serve three times the number of families in obtaining a home,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

In 2002, home ownership waiting lists contained more than 5,000 families, and some applicants had to wait decades for the opportunity to have a home. The new programs have given many more families the opportunity for home ownership through a variety of self-help programs, such as the MAP program.

“We want families to come in for Mortgage Assistance whether or not they can be approved for a home loan,” said David Southerland, HACN executive director. “We have several additional programs as well that might be beneficial for them.”

The MAP program will provide funds to Native American families within the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county jurisdictional boundaries. A variety of self- help actions, such as a homebuyer education course, are part of the eligibility requirements. Once requirements are met, funds are used as down payments and closing costs for new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of single-family residential homes.

“Families that have credit issues or other circumstances not allowing them to qualify for loans are encouraged to come in and apply for assistance,” said Southerland. “Cherokee Nation has programs that will help them repair their credit while living in the home.”

Eligible participants must be a citizen or member of a federally recognized tribe and have a tribal citizenship card, meet income guidelines and be a first time homebuyer. In addition, participants must reside within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Cherokee Nation, agree to the terms of the program, and be purchasing no more than five acres of land. Cherokee citizens are given first preference in the programs.

The Cherokee Nation currently offers several programs in addition to the MAP program, including low-income apartment rental, rental assistance, the assumable mortgage program and other community self-help programs.

For more information or to request an application contact the housing office serving the county of preference for residency. For housing assistance in Cherokee and Wagoner counties contact the HACN Area 1 Office at (918) 456-8374 or (800) 837-2869 toll free. For housing assistance in Adair County contact the HACN Area 1 Field Office at (918) 696-2055 or (888) 314-6878 toll free. For housing assistance in Craig, Nowata and Rogers Counties contact the HACN Area 2 Office at (918) 342-2433 or (866) 342-2433 toll free. For housing assistance in the Washington County area, contact the HACN Bartlesville Area 2 Field Office at (918) 336-7830, or the HACN Area 2 Field Office in Collinsville, serving north Tulsa County, at (918) 371-8435. For housing assistance in McIntosh, Muskogee, and Sequoyah Counties contact the HACN Area 3 Office at (918) 774-0922 or (866) 775-1115 toll free. For housing assistance in Delaware and Ottawa Counties contact the HACN Area 4 Office at (918) 253-8315 or (800) 250-6661 toll free. For housing assistance in Mayes County contact the HACN Area 4 Field Office at (918) 479-5128 or (888) 354-8021 toll free, or go to the HACN web site, or the Cherokee Nation web site.