CNHA to rehabilitate at least 30 homes with 2021 federal funding
LAWTON, Okla. (June 14, 2022) – Comanche Nation Housing Authority (CNHA), a Comanche Nation-affiliated organization that promotes self-sufficiency and provides affordable, safe and decent housing to low-income tribal members, recently announced it received a $1 million federal grant on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding will assist CNHA with its home rehabilitation efforts. This marks the eighth consecutive year CNHA has been a recipient of the grant.
“There is a dire need for housing rehabilitation that goes beyond critical emergency repairs among our Nation’s long-term residents,” said Nora Sovo, deputy director of CNHA. “As the only existing federal grant that allows us to explicitly focus on home repairs, the funding helps us maintain the upkeep on tribal member’s homes to ensure they have safe and viable living spaces.”
CNHA received the annual grant as part of the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program and plans to contribute $333,250 of its own funding to optimize the initiative’s abilities. Through the program, CNHA will complete interior and exterior repairs within a minimum of 30 homes over a three-year period.
Interior rehabilitations will focus on electrical panel upgrades, plumbing repairs and bathroom repairs, as well as installation of interior doors, cabinets, counter tops, plumbing fixtures, water heaters, flooring, insulation, duct work and HVAC units. Exterior rehabilitations will include the replacement and repair of roofs, exterior doors, siding, generator installation, garage doors and pin pad openers, foundation repairs and energy efficient windows.
“Our most recent ICDBG program concluded in April and supported repairs for 96 homes,” said Sovo. “With this grant, our goal is to always complete as many repairs, replacements and upgrades as possible in order to provide our low-income tribal members with the lifestyles they ultimately deserve.”
The program is now accepting applications from Comanche Nation members who are living within CNHA’s service areas and are income eligible. CNHA will service homes in need of rehabilitation services based upon living conditions and other eligibility requirements. All services must be completed within the grant’s three-year term life.
CNHA currently serves five counties in Southwest Oklahoma, including Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Kiowa and Tillman, for their federal grant programs. To learn more about the ICDBG Home Rehabilitation Program or to apply, call 580-357-4956 or visit www.comanchehousing.com.
ABOUT COMANCHE NATION HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Comanche Nation Housing Authority (CNHA) provides rental and housing assistance to low-income and other enrolled members of the Comanche Nation through a number of its service programs, including the down payment and closing cost grant, Elder home rehabilitation program, rental program, student housing program, homeownership lease purchase program and CNHA emergency home repair program (HIP). CNHA currently operates in seven counties – Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Kiowa, Tillman for federal grant programs and in Stephens and Grady for additional services that include the Elder and HIP programs. For more information about program requirements and low-income guidelines, call 580-357-4956 or visit www.comanchehousing.com.
