Current Goals/Objectives :

To create opportunities that meet the housing needs of Cowlitz tribal members in an efficient, professional and financially responsible manner.

Emergency Programs : 

Emergency  - Download Application

Funding is available to help with different housing-related emergencies or hardships. We have three different emergency programs this year.  These programs include:

• Docket 218 Emergency Housing for up to $1500 every 10 years
• Emergency Medical Related Hotel Stays
• One-time Emergency $5,000 Repair Assistance.

Docket 218 Emergency Housing for $1500 – Each Cowlitz Tribal member can receive up to $1,500 for a housing-related emergency once every 10 years.

Emergency Medical Related Hotel Stay – This program is designed to assist Cowlitz families by assisting with hotel stays while a first-degree relative receives medical treatment more than 50 miles from home.

One-time Emergency $5,000 Housing Assistance – Each Cowlitz Tribal member is eligible for once in a lifetime help with emergency repairs up to $5,000.

Eligibility

• Any Cowlitz tribal member

Required Documentation

• Tribal ID
• Statement of what the housing emergency is

Aging IN Place - Download Application  |  Download Cover Letter

Cowlitz tribal elders living anywhere in the United States can receive $15,000 annually to help Tribal Elders remain in their homes. Must be related to keeping an elder living at home. Assistance can pay property taxes, home insurance and home repairs.

Eligibility

• Cowlitz Tribal member
• Must be a homeowner
• Must be 62 or older
• Must be below 150% median income

Required Documents

• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)
• Proof of homeownership and homeowner insurance

Student Rental Assistance - Download Application | Unit Information Form

This program supports low to moderate-income Tribal members living anywhere in the United States attending post-secondary educational institutions by providing rental assistance to help with their rental housing costs. Eligible students will receive rental assistance paid directly to the landlord. Independent students submit their own financial information. Dependent students must submit their parents’ tax returns. For the sake of this program dependent students are defined as students unmarried under 24 who still rely on their parents for support. Independent students are: students older than 25, married, have served in the armed forces, a graduate or professional student, an orphan or ward of the court, an emancipated minor or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. To be eligible for this program income must fall below 150% of the area median income. Recipients must contribute 20% of income towards rent.

Eligibility Rules

• Must be enrolled Cowlitz
• Must be enrolled full-time in an accredited post-secondary school in the United States
• Must be below 150% median income level. Note: Parents income is used if student doesn’t meet independent student status.
• Must maintain a GPA must be 2.0 or higher
• Must apply annually Applications are due yearly before every academic year
• Grades and enrollment verification must be sent in before every term.
• Must contribute 20% of adjusted gross income towards rent

Required Documents

• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)
• Parents’ tax return if not an independent student
• Proof of enrollment in school
• Grades
• Lease or mortgage documentation or itemized bill from on campus housing

Elder Rental or Mortgage Assistance - Download Application | Unit Information Form | Checklist

This program supports low income Tribal member elders living anywhere in the United States by providing rental assistance to help with their rental or mortgage housing expenses. To be eligible for this program income must fall below 80% of the area median income. Program participants are required to contribute 20% of their income towards rent or mortgage in order for the program to contribute to rent or mortgage expenses.

Eligibility Rules

• Must be below 80% median income level
• Must be 62 years or older
• Applications must be renewed annually

Required Documents

• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)
• Lease or mortgage documentation

Disabled Rental or Mortgage Assistance - Download Application | Unit Information Form | Checklist

This program supports low income disabled Tribal members living anywhere in the United States by providing rental assistance to help with their rental or mortgage housing expenses. To be eligible for this program income must fall below 80% of the area median income. Program participants are required to contribute 20% of their income towards rent or mortgage in order for the program to contribute to rent or mortgage expenses.

Eligibility Rules

• Must be below 80% median income level
• Applications must be renewed annually

Required Documents

• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)
• Lease or Rental agreement documentation OR Mortgage holder information
• Social Security Statement to document disability

Standard Rental or Mortgage Assistance - Download Application | Unit Information Form | Checklist

This program supports low income Tribal members living anywhere in the United States by providing rental assistance to help with their rental or mortgage housing expenses. Note this program only provides up to 6 months of assistance per year. For this program, applicants need to be below 80% of the median income level for their area. Program participants are required to contribute 20% of their income towards rent or mortgage in order for the program to contribute to rent or mortgage expenses.

Eligibility Rules

• Must be below 80% median income level
• Must contribute 20% of adjusted gross income towards rent
• Applications must be renewed annually

Required Documents

• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)
• Lease or rental agreement documentation

Down Payment Assistance - Download Application

The Cowlitz Indian Tribal Housing down payment assistance program is meant to help tribal members become homeowners with up to $35,000 for a down payment on a home. Down payment assistance can not be used to purchase bare land.

Eligibility

• Must be a Cowlitz Tribal member
• Income must be below the 150% median level
• Must be approved for a loan from an accredited lending institution

Required Documents

• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)
• Copy of pre-approval letter

Well and Septic Assistance - Download Application

The housing department facilitates paperwork for every tribal member to receive once in a lifetime assistance for a well or septic up to $20,000. Available for any enrolled native American residing in Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.

Eligibility

• Enrolled Native American Tribal
• Must be a homeowner

Required Documents

• Tribal ID

Saint Mary’s Apartments

Native Americans from any tribe members 62 and older can apply to live at Saint Mary’s. To be eligible for this program income must fall below 80% of the area median income. Residents must contribute 20% of their income towards rent.

Eligibility Rules

• Must be enrolled in a tribe
• Must be below 80% median income level
• Must contribute 20% of adjusted gross income towards rent
• Applications must be renewed annually

Required Documents

• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)

Housing Assistance Fund - Download Application | Cover Letter | Attestation 

The Housing Assistance program (HAF) will provide financial assistance to eligible Cowlitz households that are or have been experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19 across the country. Eligible applicants can receive payments for 100% of past due mortgage, current mortgage and 3 months of prospective mortgage payments. In addition, program participants can receive 100% of past due utility payments, current utility payments and 3 months of future utility payments.

Eligibility Rules

• Experienced a reduction in household income
• Incurred significant costs
• Experienced financial hardship
• Experiencing housing instability or homelessness
• Member of household affected by COVID-19, leading to financial burden
• Household is at or below 80% area median
• Must be a home owner

Required Documents

• Documentation of hardship
• Proof of a reduction in income due to covid
• Proof of homeownership
• Proof of income
• Current or past due rent, utility bills (electricity, gas, garbage, sewer, water, etc)
• Tribal ID
• Proof of income (i.e. Tax return, paystubs, social security statement, etc)
• W-9 from landlord

VIEW CITH’s 2022 Indian Housing Plan

Bonneville Power Administration Home Weatherization Grant - Download BPA Application

Program Guidelines: 

Program provides one home weatherization project to a tribal member home owner.  Home owners can choose from HVAC, exterior doors, windows or insulation.

We have limited funding to assist approximately 20 homes.  A waitlist will be created and we will help families on a first come first served basis.  When we receive additional funding throughout 2023 and 2024, we will help homeowners from the waitlist with these projects in the order applications were received.

To qualify, the applicant must be below 200% of median income for their area.  This can be found here:

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2022/select_Geography.odn

To qualify, the applicant must receive power from the Bonneville Power Administration.

Here is a map for reference:
https://www.bpa.gov/-/media/Aep/energy-efficiency/residential/residential-weatherization-essentials/bpa-public-tribal-and-iou-customer-service-areas.pdf

You can check BPA power providers by entering zip code here: Find Local Resources - Comfort Ready Home

OR find your power provider on this list: