We have a few programs available: Elders Renovation Program, Renovation Program, Elders Home Protection Program, and Elders and Disabled Accessibility Program. There are requirements for eligibility. Upon qualification, there is a set limit on the amount of funding that can be provided for each participant in a specific program.
Elders Renovation Program
This program is for near elders or elders, 55 years of age and older. If eligible it will help with renovation costs up to $1,500.00 as a grant and will help with repairing damages to the unit, replacing parts to appliances, or replacing the appliance itself-such as a stove or water heater. An appliance will only be replaced if it does not work at all. An assessment will be completed, and then the application will be approved or disapproved. Please keep in mind this is only a grant for $1,500.00 which when it comes to home repair, doesn’t stretch that far.
Renovation Program
Renovation is provided to people who reside within the Housing Departments service area which is the colony and the reservation. The Renovation Program may be used to provide assistance to low income tribal member families for minor to major repairs in their homes. Eligible applicants may receive a loan up to $1,500 to make emergency repairs to appliances, plumbing, electrical, and water damage to flooring. Tribal Employees who are participating in the Payback Program will sign a payroll deduction form that will allow the monthly repayment installments to be deducted directly from their wages or salary. Successful applicants will be required to repay the loan in $75.00 per month installments.
Elders Home Protection Program
Elders and near Elders who qualify under this program will be provided insurance for their home at no cost. You must be a homeowner, not a homebuyer and eligibility requirements are outlined within the policy. The insurance provided by the Housing Department is through Amerind Risk Management and this insurance is only for the home itself. Insurance coverage for personal belongings is not included.
Elders and Disabled Accessibility Program
The purpose of this program is to provide assistance to the elderly/disabled for repairs and rehabilitation of existing homes of low income elderly/disabled persons to ensure access to their homes and barrier free bath facilities; and to insure safe and sanitary conditions and better living environment. The program can’t be used for items that would be considered a luxury. This program will cover costs up to $3000.00 annually as a grant to the individual for items such as handicap ramps, bathroom grab bars, or widening of doors for wheelchair access. An applicant must provide certification from a medical professional that there is a need for an accessible route or alterations to dwelling unit. Essential features needed for accessibility may include but are not limited to entrances, toilet rooms, barrier free shower system.
Emergency Rental Assistance
The Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe Housing Department has developed and approved an Emergency Rental Assistance Policy and application to provide financial assistance and housing stability to eligible households. This program can assist with rent, rental arrears, utilities, and home energy costs, relocation expenses, rental fees, internet service, and reasonable late fees on rent or utilities. All documentation requested must be provided and eligibility will be determined by the Housing Department staff under the criteria outlined in the policy.
Emergency Rental Assistance Policy Emergency Rental Assistance Application
The Housing Department is trying to maximize our dollar for repairs and renovations by creating a partnership with USDA. They do have a loan program and also a grant program for home repairs. Applications and eligibility requirements are available in the Housing Department or can be mailed by request. We strongly encourage you to apply for USDA along with our own Housing Department applications to get more home repairs done. If you should need more specific information on USDA programs you can contact Diane Arviso who is their Single Family Housing Specialist at 775-423-7541 ext. 100. USDA has a few programs that can assist you with home repairs needed for better living conditions, but they have other programs that can assist in the process of getting home loans for those that wish to pursue buying a house.
Housing Applications: please call or stop by the office for an application and make sure to submit all your current information regarding identity, tribal enrollment, and income. Background checks are also necessary to determine eligibility.
Housing Assistance Application
The current waiting list for our Low Rent and Homeowner Programs is growing and for those that have applied, make sure your files are complete and updated every time there is a change. If we cannot notify you by the address you have provided then you may be removed from the list. If there are no changes in your household or income then please be mindful that you must update your application every 6 months even you have no changes to remain on the list.
If you have a past debt that has not been paid you will not be eligible to reside in a Low Rental/Homeownership or placed on our waiting list. Please make arrangements to pay-off any past due debts owed to the Housing Department.
If you need assistance with any of the applications or have questions please feel free to contact Shalone Jimmy, Resident Services Specialist, at the Housing Department if she is unavailable one of the other staff members can assist you.
Low Rent Tenants: as a reminder, being in a Low Rent Unit you is not allowed to have any kind of animals. If you do keep or acquire any animals while in a Low Rental you may be terminated from your lease. The Housing Department will be monitoring our Low Rent Units for animals and other non-compliance issues throughout the year.
Inspections are being scheduled for all of our Low Rent Units to make sure things are kept in compliance and to minimize maintenance issues. The Housing Department is still currently working on deficiencies in our Low Rental units. Notices were mailed out this month on the dates and times for Low Rent inspections. Please keep your scheduled appointment if at all possible. If not, you may call and reschedule and we are only going to allow tenants to reschedule one time. Re-certifications will take place the same time as the Low Rental Inspections.
Inspections on all of the homes were done this past year and you have been given a copy of the inspection sheet. Make sure to correct the deficiencies on the inspection if you are a homebuyer. This is your responsibility to do so unless it is an appliance under warranty. In this case, please call the Housing Department to get this corrected. The Housing Department will be scheduling inspections in October.
For all of our tenants – Propane Tanks: please keep your propane tanks filled! This is very important, especially because no propane can cause pipes to leak and some of the homes need the propane to run their appliances such as stoves, and water heaters. It is also a requirement for everyone currently in a lease with the Housing Department to maintain their utilities-which includes propane.
To minimize the paperwork for annual re-certifications they will be divided throughout the year between Low Rent and Homebuyers. So, if you get a notice to re-certify and you have just done so, this is the reason why. Once you have re-certified this year you will not get another notice to re-certify again for another year. Keep in mind, this does not mean that you don’t need to notify the Housing Department of any changes that occur with your income, employment, or household composition throughout the year. If any changes do occur, please make the Housing Department aware as soon as possible. There are forms at the office to fill out if you lose your job, have a change in income, or a change in your household composition. If you cannot pick these up at the office, they can be mailed to you upon request.
The Housing Department is also working on getting counseling and training sessions set up for our tenants. Keep an eye open for upcoming notices in the future. Some of the counseling and training sessions we would like to offer may consist of:
- Budget Management
- House Maintenance
- Crime Prevention
- Healthy Family Connections
We have a number of homes that are being renovated and the anticipated date for completion is scheduled for the end of April.
Please keep your accounts current. If you know you are delinquent please take it upon yourselves to come into the office and do a payback agreement or pay off your past due balance. This is going to be monitored more closely, and we will be sending out notices of delinquencies more frequently. If you do not bring your account current and make no attempts to do so you will be subject to termination and eviction.