The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Housing Department has numerous programs and incentives to help CPN members across the U.S. and Native Americans living in its jurisdiction access housing. Programs include low income housing, down payment and closing cost assistance as well as the Home III Construction and Acquisition Program.

“We often hear from tribal members that they didn’t know about a program that might help with their housing needs,” said CPN Housing Department Home Ownership Manager Sherry Byers. “The truth is we have many programs that might apply.”

One such endeavor is the Home Acquisition Program, funded partially through grant funds from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The program is available for those living in the tribal jurisdiction, with a priority given to Citizen Potawatomi who meet the program’s guidelines. The acquisition program enables CPN tribal members to choose and purchase existing homes from the CPN Housing Department inventory.

There are specific guidelines for the program however.

Each applicant must meet the median income limit guidelines – calculated at 80 percent of national income -which is determined by family size. Qualified applicants are required to secure a mortgage through First National Bank & Trust of Shawnee, Oklahoma, which is wholly owned by Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

Neither the applicant nor any household member that will reside there can be a convicted felon.

Once approved, eligible borrowers have access to financing up to a $20,000 buy-down grant that will be applied to the purchase price of the home. Each applicant must contribute at least one percent of their own funds toward this purchase.

“We currently have one home in McLoud, Oklahoma ready for purchase,” said Sherry Byers, CPN Housing Department Home Ownership Manager. “If the applicant has never used it before, our one time grant might also be available for use with the acquisition program.”

To learn more information, Byers encourages interested tribal members to contact her at the CPN Housing Department by email at sbyers@potawatomi.org or by phone at 405-273-2833.