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YUROK INDIAN HOUSING AUTHORITY
15540 N. Hwy 101 Klamath CA • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 98 Klamath CA 95548
(707) 482-1506   (800) 281-4749   Fax: 707-482-3117



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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


GENERAL INFORMATION

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
  1. When are you going to start on my project?
  2. How much will it cost to complete my project?
  3. What is the status of my project?
  4. Why do they keep sending Inspector(s) to check my home?

FISCAL AND COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT
  1. What if I can't make my rent/mutual help payment by the 10th?
  2. How are my mutual help or rent payments calculated?

PROGRAM OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
  1. Am I eligible for services through the Yurok Indian Housing Authority?
  2. How do I apply for housing assistance?
  3. What is required to complete an application?
  4. Are there selection preferences?
  5. What is the waiting list?
  6. Where am I on the waiting list?
  7. Why have I moved down the waiting list instead of up? I was further up last time I called.
  8. What do I do if I move?
  9. Do I have to live on the reservation to receive services?
  10. Will owning my own land allow me to receive services sooner?
  11. Does the housing authority provide emergency housing assistance?
  12. How are rent or house payments determined?
  13. What are the roles of the housing authority as landlord and the tribal member as tenant?

REALTY AND AQUISITION DEPARTMENT
  1. Why is an environmental review required for my housing project?
  2. How long will the environmental review take?
  3. Can I get housing services if I don’t own any land?
  4. What is the Yurok Tribe Land Assignment process?

TITLE VI DEPARTMENT
  1. What does the Title VI Department do?
  2. What is the Zero Down Program?




DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Q 1  When are you going to start on my project?
A 1  When all of the application requirements are met, and the pre-development clearances have been obtained from all Tribal departments.
Q 2  How much will it cost to complete my project?
A 2  The Housing Authority is required to follow the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Total Development Cost (TDC) guidelines, on all projects.The final project budget is determined by the following:

• Type of program assistance you have requested
• The YIHA program budget
• Repayment ability based on your annual income
Q 3  What is the status of my project?
A 3  Upon approval of your application for assistance a request for services is completed and submitted to the Development Department:
• Pre-development activities on all programs   120 days.
The actual project, depending on the program
• Rehabilitation project   180 days
• Replacement project   180 days
• New construction project   9 months

You can call the Development Department for an update on your approved project.
Q 4  Why do they keep sending Inspector(s) to check my home?
A 4  As part of the preliminary development phase of a project, inspections allow the YIHA Staff, Architect and Engineer to develop a scope of work and prepare the bid documents.
During the construction phase of a project, inspections ensure that the scope of work is completed correctly and that all construction work performed meets code requirements.
As part of the Tenant/Homeownership phase of a project, inspections ensure that the required unit up-keep and maintenance are being done on a timely basis.
FISCAL AND COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT
Q 1  What if I can't make my rent/mutual help payment by the 10th?
A 1  If you call the fiscal department and make payment arrangements prior to the 10th of the month you will not be charged the $10 late fee. If you do not pay according to the arrangements that were made the $10 late fee will be applied to your account.
Q 2  How are my mutual help or rent payments calculated?
A 2  Your rent and mutual help payments cannot exceed 30% of your annual income. This is why the Housing Authority requests an annual income update from our tenants. There is a $400.00 deduction from annual income if there is an elder 62 years or older that live in the household and a $480.00 deduction from annual income for each child under the age of 18. These deductions are made from annual income then the 30% is calculated.
PROGRAM OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
Q 1  Am I eligible for services through the Yurok Indian Housing Authority?
A 1  To be eligible for housing assistance from the Yurok Indian Housing Authority, you must be a member of a federally recognized tribe living within the service area of Del Norte and Humboldt Counties. You must also qualify within the income guidelines established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Q 2  How do I apply for housing assistance?
A 2  Applications are available at most tribal offices or you may request that one be mailed to you by calling or writing the housing authority office. Also you may print an application from our website at www.yurokhousing.com.
Q 3  What is required to complete an application?
A 3  To complete an application you must first completely fill-out and sign the application and include the following documentation:
  1. A completed and signed Release of Information form for every adult in the household.
  2. Verification of your tribal enrollment.
  3. Copies of Social Security cards for everyone in the household.
  4. Current income verification. Your income should be updated every year.
In Addition, if you are claiming a disability, doctor’s verification is required. If you are an honorably discharged veteran then verification of this is required to receive more criteria points.
Q 4  Are there selection preferences?
A 4  The Yurok Indian Housing Authority gives priority to elders by making them eligible for more criteria points. In addition, living conditions, disabilities, veterans, working heads of households or spouses, having children under the age of eighteen, all influence the amount of criteria points each applicant is eligible.
Q 5  What is the waiting list?
A 5  Due to the fact that the need for housing is greater than the demand, waiting lists have been established for each of the housing programs.
Q 6  Where am I on the waiting list?
A 6  Your place on the waiting list is determined by a points based criteria, and the amount of points you are eligible for determines your place on the list. To find out your current place on the waiting list you must either call the housing authority office or write to request this information.
Q 7  Why have I moved down the waiting list instead of up? I was further up last time I called.
A 7  When new applications are received and the applicant is eligible for more criteria points, they will bump you down the list. Also, tribal members have the right to change the program they wish to participate in, so if an applicant changes programs to the waiting list you are on and they have more criteria points than you, you will be moved down the waiting list.
Q 8  What do I do if I move?
A 8  Any time you have a change in your mailing address, be sure to contact the housing authority to inform us of your current mailing address.
Q 9  Do I have to live on the reservation to receive services?
A 9  No, you do not have to live on the reservation to receive housing services, however, you do have to live within, or be willing to relocate into the service area of Del Norte and Humboldt Counties.
Q 10  Will owning my own land allow me to receive services sooner?
A 10  No, it will not allow you to receive services sooner. What it may do is make your housing project more affordable.
Q 11  Does the housing authority provide emergency housing assistance?
A 11  Yes, but this assistance is limited in the nature of assistance provided as well as the amount assistance provided. The emergency assistance program is to provide temporary assistance to tribal members who are dislocated from their home due to a natural disaster, such as fire, flood, storm damage, etc. In addition, a tribal member may receive an emergency rehabilitation to their home to provide handicap access.
Q 12  How are rent or house payments determined?
A 12  Rent payments are calculated by anticipating yearly gross income and making deductions of $480 for each dependent and $400 for an elderly family. The total amount paid cannot exceed thirty percent of a household’s adjusted gross income. Tribal members in the rental program have a cap on their rent at $400 per month. Tribal members in the Homeownership program have a cap on their home payments of $650 per month.
Q 13  What are the roles of the housing authority as landlord and the tribal member as tenant?
A 13  The housing authority has the responsibility to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for tribal members. It is the tenants’ responsibility to follow all of the rules and regulations of the housing authority and the signed lease agreement.
REALTY AND AQUISITION DEPARTMENT
Q 1  Why is an environmental review required for my housing project?
A 1  To ensure that environmental concerns are identified and addressed before a project is undertaken. It protects residents, neighborhoods, communities, and the land, air and water. The law (National Environmental Policy Act of 1969) requires that the environmental effects of activities carried out with NAHASDA, HUD or local funds must be evaluated before the Housing Authority may acquire, rehabilitate, convert, lease, repair or construct property.
Q 2  How long will the environmental review take?
A 2  The length of the environmental review depends on the project that is being undertaken. Projects that assist tribal members with a down payment to purchase a new home; the environmental can take as little as three weeks to complete. Conversely, projects that include acquisition and construction on unimproved property, the environmental can take as long as 6 to 8 months. If the site for the housing project is in problem area, such as cultural site or in a floodplain, mitigating the potential effect will take additional time.
Q 3  Can I get housing services if I don’t own any land?
A 3  Yes, as a Tribal Member, you can apply for a Yurok Tribe Land Assignment or you can lease land for your home site from the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority also does land/home packages for Tribal Members.
Q 4  What is the Yurok Tribe Land Assignment process?
A 4  The initial step in the Land Assignment process is to file an application with the Tribal Planning Department. Tribal Planning, Enrollment, GIS, Environmental and Cultural Department will inspect the proposed home site for suitability. The Realty Section of the Planning Department will make a recommendation to the Tribal Council to approve or deny the land assignment request.
TITLE VI DEPARTMENT
Q 1  What does the Title VI Department do?
A 1  The Title VI department will develop and coordinate all Title VI and Model activities; will develop and coordinate of Tax-credit and Bond Financing Activities; will develop and coordinate the Lease-to Own Program; will develop and operate a Realty Department to provide services to Native Americans within the service area; will develop a Non-Profit to house a Home-owner Initiative and a One-Stop Mortgage Center; and will advance the Finance Authority.
Q 2  What is the Zero Down Program?
A 2  There are several Zero Down Programs, but the best one is the USDA Loan Guarantee (Section 502). This program is primarily used to help low-income individuals or households to purchase home in rural areas. Funds can be used to build, repair, renovate or relocate a home, or to purchase and prepare sites, including providing water and sewage facilities. Applicants for loans may have an income of up to 115% of the median income for the area. There is no required down payment. Contact the Title VI Department for more information, brochure and pre-qualification form. Information can soon be found on the web site: www.yurokhousing.com.


YIHA 15540 N. Hwy 101 Klamath CA


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