Starting in 2018 the Mashpee Wampanoag Housing Department will have a new program that it will be adding to its stable of housing assistance programs that it offers. The new Emergency Home Repair program, unlike many of the other programs that are targeting tribal citizens in search of housing, is geared towards homeowners in the Tribe’s service area.
Michelle Tobey, housing director at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, sees this new program as a way to serve a segment of the community that were being missed. “There’s a lot of homeowners in our community that are working hard but living month to month to make ends meet. For them a leaky roof or a blown water heater can become an insurmountable problem that can severely impact their ability to meet their financial obligations,” said Michelle. “That’s where this program comes into play. It allows us to provide some assistance for emergency repairs and help to keep the family on track.”
The guidelines for the program are similar to all of the other programs offered through the housing department, with income guidelines set by HUD each year. The maximum Emergency Home Repair funds available are up to $1,500.00 per household. They are provided to qualified low-income tribal members and Native American homeowners whose homes are found with code violations, safety, or the threat of loss.
Other program being offered in 2018 include rental assistance, eviction prevention, down payment and closing cost assistance, foreclosure prevention and the Indian Housing Sanitation Program.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Housing Department is here to provide safe affordable housing to eligible tribal members and other Native Americans who reside in the Tribe’s service area. It is the Housing Department’s mission to provide housing assistance and opportunities specific to the needs of the Native Americans living within the Wampanoag Community.
