Housing Programs

CONTACT

Street/Mailing Address: 57907 E Old Mill Site Ct, North Fork, CA 93643

Main Telephone: (559) 877-7360

Fax: (559) 877-4193

Hours of Operation: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, closed for lunch from 12:00pm – 1:00pm.

The NFRIHA office is open to the public in accordance with California Department of Public Health Guidance for COVID-19.

HUD IHBG PROGAM ELIGIBILITY

All applicants must meet the requirements set by HUD and NFRIHA.

Applicants must be a tribal citizen of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and head of household or spouse.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
For full levels of funding assistance, the total household income may not exceed 80% of the median as defined by HUD.
Applications must be completed along with proof of income, copies of social security cards for all persons in the household, and proof of tribal enrollment for the eligible applicant.
Programs are available to low-income and non-low-income households. Low-income is defined as households whose income does not exceed 80% of HUD median income limits. Non-low income for the purpose of these programs is defined as all households in excess of 80% of HUD median income limits.
Pursuant to 24CFR 1000.10, median income is defined as the greater of:
- The median income for the county where services are to be provided.
- The median income for the United States.

Family Size

Low-Income

80% of Median

$44,744

$51,136

$57,528

$63,920

$69,034

$74,147

$79,261

$84,374

*NOTE: Income limits vary by county. Please contact NFRIHA to confirm income limits for your area.

NON-LOW-INCOME ELIGIBILITY

NFRIHA may provide a limited amount of assistance to non-low-income families whose income falls within 80% to 100% of the median for the following programs: Down Payment Assistance, Emergency Rental Assistance, Foreclosure & Debt Relief, Housing Rehabilitation, and Housing Services.
A non-low-income applicant must demonstrate there is a need for housing that cannot reasonably be met without such assistance.
Non-low-income families cannot receive the same benefits provided to low-income families, assistance to non-low-income families cannot exceed: (Income of family at 80% of median income/Income of non-low-income family) × (Present value of the assistance provided to family at 80% of median income).

Family Size

Non-Low-Income

100% of Median

$55,930

$63,920

$71,910

$79,900

$86,292

$92,684

$99,076

$105,468

*NOTE: Income limits vary by county. Please contact NFRIHA to confirm income limits for your area.

HOUSING PROGRAMS

The Service Area for the following programs has been expanded Nationwide to greater meet the housing needs of tribal citizens.

Down Payment Assistance Program:

NFRIHA will provide one-time down payment assistance toward the purchase of a home.
The maximum amount of assistance available is 20% of the purchase price, not to exceed $40,000.
Properties must meet HUD/FHA Minimum Property Standards, and generally must be free of defective conditions.
The applicant must be able to obtain a mortgage loan with an eligible lender.
Assistance will be secured by a second deed of trust, amortized after 10 years of ownership, and forgiven after 20 years of ownership.
All applicants must first apply with NFRIHA to determine eligibility and are to contact NFRIHA prior to submitting a purchase agreement and entering escrow to confirm the availability of funds. Funding is awarded on a first come first serve basis.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program:

NFRIHA will provide one-time assistance, allowable once within a 24-month period, for tribal citizens who are displaced or served with an eviction notice for their current or most recent residence, live in unsafe or substandard living conditions, or live-in overcrowded conditions.
NFRIHA may approve such assistance under other conditions such as: loss of income, medical expenses, natural or manmade disasters that are determined to be an imminent threat to the health or safety of household occupant’s and require relocation.
If eligible, assistance will be provided in the amount of the first month’s rent, and deposit if required by a new lease agreement. For tenants seeking to remain in an existing rental unit, assistance will be provided in the amount of one month’s rent.
Guidelines:
- Monthly rental payments cannot exceed 30% of the household’s gross monthly income.
- Lease agreements must be provided stating the monthly rent and deposit.
- All checks will be submitted directly to the landlord.
- Reimbursement for eligible moving expenses will be allowed up to $300.

Foreclosure & Debt Relief Program:

NFRIHA has established a Foreclosure & Debt Relief Program to provide assistance for homeowners to remain in their homes when foreclosure actions are imminent, whether instituted by a lender for default on payments or by the county for delinquent property taxes.
One-time assistance, not to exceed $5,000.
Applicants must have the ability to maintain monthly mortgage payments following NFRIHA assistance. Monthly mortgage payments must be within 30% of the household’s gross monthly income.
Applicants must attempt a resolution with the mortgage holder including the utilization of mortgage relief options, when available.

The Service Area of the follow programs is Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa counties.

Low-Income Rental Units

NFRIHA currently has 35 low-income rentals units. Tribal Citizens must apply to be placed on the waiting list for North Fork, Fresno/Clovis, or Madera.

Applicants must be low-income to be placed on the waiting list and must be low-income at initial occupancy.
Pre-determine rents have been established for each unit based on the number of bedrooms.
Applicants must also meet the eligibility conditions stated in the Admissions and Occupancy Policy; factors negatively impacting eligibility include prior criminal record for any household members.
Applicants on the waiting list will be required to update annually on or before October 1^st, and will be provided annual update notices. In order to help ensure good standing, an applicant must also notify the NFRIHA immediately upon any changes in income, address, or other changes in the household that may impact eligibility for a program.
Applicants who fail to respond to an annual update notice sent by the NFRIHA or who fail to report changes in their income, address, or household shall have their application designated as “inactive” and may lose their original place on the waiting list.

Housing Rehabilitation Program:

The purpose of this program is to assist homeowners with repairs for conditions that pose an imminent threat to the health and safety of the occupants, and to bring their property up to minimum housing standards.
Applicants must have a fee or leasehold interest in the property to be improved.
Applicants must have been a resident at the home for the past 12 months.
Basic maintenance services will not be undertaken by the NFRIHA.
The level of assistance is also contingent on the NFRIHA’s ability to record a Useful Life/Use Restriction on the property.

Housing Services Program:

The Housing Services Program has been established to assist tribal citizens with obtaining a residential lease on allotment land. Residential leases are recorded with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and are necessary for individuals residing on allotment land to provide proof of a leasehold interest in the property to become eligible for housing rehabilitation and the homeownership assistance program.
This program will assist tribal citizens in requesting a residential lease and public version Title Status Report (TSR), obtaining consent requirements for leases, obtaining a land survey from a Certified Federal Surveyor (CFEDS), providing proof of ingress/egress access, and with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.
This program may also be used to assist eligible property owners in researching land titles on fee lands in order to qualify for affordable housing assistance. The Housing Services program will not assist in clearing liens or claims but will provide technical assistance and assist with other costs necessary to allow for landowners with fractionalized interests in becoming eligible for housing assistance and allow for a Useful Life/Use Restriction to be recorded.

Homeownership Assistance Program:

Funding for this program is currently limited to placement of available mobile homes.
The Homeownership Assistance Program has been designed to assist individuals or families who are truly committed to owning a home and meeting homeownership responsibilities. This program may be used for the construction of a new home or toward the purchase and placement of a manufactured home.
The Homeownership Assistance Program may be utilized on Trust, Individually Allotted, or Fee Simple Lands located within Fresno, Madera, or Mariposa County.
Applicants must have ownership of the land where the home will be placed in order to be eligible for this program. The applicant must be listed on Title Status Report provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for trust or allotment lands or must be on the deed for fee lands. If the applicant owns a divided interest in a proposed home site, they must have a long-term residential lease in place, or obtain the necessary consent from all other interests to become eligible.
Proposed home sites are encouraged to have access to infrastructure/utilities (access, water, power, and sewer). If services are being provided by another homeowner on the property, consent must be provided. All service connections must be feasible within the total cost of development allowable.
The total cost of development or the purchase price will be contingent on the NFRIHA’s ability to record a Useful Life/Use Restriction on the property, and on the availability of funds.

Emergency Potable Water Program:

Emergency Potable Water Program has been established to provide eligible homeowners with an emergency potable water supply due to periodic droughts.
Tribal citizens in need will also be referred to Indian Health Service (IHS) Division of Sanitation Facilities, which provides Indian homes and communities with essential water supply and sewage disposal under Public Law 86-121
The program will cover costs to have a licensed potable water hauler fill temporary or permanent water storage tanks.
This program is designed to be temporary and non-recurring to meet emergency water supply needs until replacement or altering of the private water systems can be undertaken by IHS or the NFRIHA.
The NFRIHA will provide the minimum necessary potable water for human consumption, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of families.
Funds must be used toward sustaining permanent residential structures.
Water storage tanks and booster pumps may be provided to applicants through the program if the applicant does not currently have one or the ability to accept potable water delivery.

The NFRIHA offers a wide variety of housing programs. Please contact us at (559) 877-7360 to discuss your housing needs and to determine if you are eligible for our programs.