"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Rental Assistance Available

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation (HACN) is taking applications for families for the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) for Sequoyah, McIntosh and Muskogee Counties.

The RAP program issues the eligible family a coupon allowing them to search for an eligible unit to lease as long as the unit falls within the Fair Market Rent guidelines. Families are allowed to find their own rental property of the appropriate size and payment. Subsidized rent is paid by HACN based on the family’s income and the gross rent of the unit.

This program is designed to allow eligible families to choose their own dwelling unit as long as the unit meets HUD Housing Quality Standards, occupancy standards, and the unit is within the 14-county Cherokee Nation jurisdictional boundaries. The eligible applicant is allowed to choose any type of housing such as; house, apartment, duplex or mobile home, as long as the unit meets the inspection requirements

All applicants must meet eligibility guidelines. Guidelines include income limits, must be a U. S. citizen, each family member five years of age or older must have a social security card and the applicant or family member must have CDIB or be a member of a federally recognized tribe. A criminal background check will be conducted on persons eighteen years of age or older because assistance will not be paid for a person that has a background of violent crimes or drug related crimes.

Eligibility requirements for the Rental Assistance Program include the head of household or spouse must be a member of a Federally recognized tribe or have a dependant living in the home of Indian descent of a federally recognized tribe.

For more information or for an application, you may contact the Housing Authority Office nearest you at the following locations or download an application from the Housing Authority website at www.hacn.org.

In Sequoyah County contact the Sallisaw Office located at 2260 W. Cherokee, or call 918-774-0922 or toll free 1-866-775-1115.

For McIntosh County contact the Houston Johnston Heights Office located at North 6th Avenue in Warner, or call 918-463-3242, this office will take applications on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. 3 p.m.