Mission Statement:

The Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority will strive to provide safe, sanitary and affordable housing, decrease homelessness and increase affordable rental housing, and homeownership opportunities through the provisions of supportive services and financial assistance programs. We address the wants and needs of low-income members and work to upgrade housing conditions on the reservaton and within the Tribe's approved service area. Services include: Mortgage down payment assistance, refinance assistance, emergency housing assistance, lease purchase assistance, budget/credit counseling, financial management training and maintenance counseling.

The Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority Office opened March 5, 2001.Our staff has over 40 years of combined experience in mortgage lending and mortgage loan programs. They are responsible for assisting tribal members to prequalify and obtain mortgages from financial institutions. A tribal member who currently owns a home cannot receive assistance to purchase another home, until they sell the home currently owned. Any home being purchased has to be the tribal member's primary residence, at the time the assistance is received. All tribal members are eligible for assistance regardless of their income level. Our Mortgage Finance Assistance Program provides assistance for down payment and closing cost for any enrolled tribal members 18 years of age or over. The allocated amount of assistance is up to $5,000.00, if needed. If less than $5,000.00 is needed, the applicant will only receive the down payment and/or closing cost amount being requested by the lending institution. No tribal member will receive any MFA assistance funds paid directly to him or her. All funds are paid directly to the title company, closing attorney, or other closing agent. Funds are disbursed by check or wire transfer. The closing agent will return any unused portion of the down payment and/or closing cost funds to the Housing Authority. In an effort to provide maximum assistance, our service has been designated as the continental United States, whereby allowing us to provide Mortgage Finance Assistance to tribal members located within all 50 states.

"Any tribal member attempting to purchase a home should contact the Housing Authority prior to initiating the mortgage loan process with a lending institution. There are certain requirements that must be met prior to receiving down payment and/ or closing cost assistance. Failure to do so could result in not being eligible for assistance".

TYPES OF FUNDING
We currently have three funds that we use to assist our members in providing down payment and/or closing cost assistance.  Regarding Home Repairs & Remodeling Assistance, we currently do not have any programs in existence at this time. In the future we hope to develop programs to assist our members in this area.

NAHASDA FUNDS
The Housing Authority utilizes these federal funds to assist members in the very low, and low-income levels. NAHASDA income stipulate that a single member household cannot exceed $30,450, two family household $34,800, three family household $39,150 and a four member household $43,500 dollars. Any tribal household that exceeds four family members should contact the Housing Authority regarding income limits. Any tribal member utilizing these funds is required to obtain Homebuyer Education Training prior to a loan closing. All enrolled tribal members 18 yrs. of age or over, are eligible for this assistance if income requirements are met. First time homebuyers or tribal members who are selling a current home to construct or acquire another home can utilize these funds. Funds are allocated as one-time assistance towards the purchase or construction of a home. The maximum amount of assistance is allocated at up to $5,000.00 if needed. Each tribal member will only receive the amount required by the financial institution, not to exceed $5,000.00

TRIBAL FUNDS
These funds are allocated by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council and are utilized to assist those tribal members who exceed the income limits stipulated by NAHASDA. Eligibility requirements are the same as stipulated by the other two above-mentioned funding sources. Elders are not eligible for this assistance.

REFINANCE ASSISTANCE FUND
This fund in the amount of $25,000 was set up by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council to assist those tribal members with higher interest rate mortgage loans, in refinancing to reduce the high interest rates. To be eligible for assistance the tribal member has to drop 2% from the rate being charged on their current mortgage loan. (Example: Loan @ 10% dropping to rate of 8%). The amount of assistance is allocated at an amount of up to $3,000.00, if needed. These funds can be utilized to cover closing cost; principal reduction and interest rate buy downs. This is also a one-time assistance. Tribal members will be required to meet the qualifying criteria of the financial institution that will be reducing the rate as well as refinancing the mortgage. The Housing Authority must be included in the loop with the financial institutions to insure all Policies and Procedure are adhered to. No funding will be issued to a tribal member. All checks will be made out to the financial institution.

The coordinator of this department will assist in all aspects of homebuyer education, housing counseling and all other aspects of housing management as directed by the Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority Board of Commissioners under the direction of the Housing Counselor/Coordinator. The primary goal and objective of this department is to assist applicants and residents in meeting the financial obligations associated with housing through planning and counseling in the pre-occupant and post-occupany phases. Homebuyer Counseling involves intensive educational counseling regarding program requirements, home maintenance, down payments or contributions, property care, budgeting credit counseling and money management, and other financial obligations associated with housing.

Housing Administrative Assistant/Construction Project Coordinator/
Counselor Coordinator Assistant

The coordinator of this deparment assists the Housing Authority Director and other staff in providing homebuyer education training, accepting applications with regard to applying and qualifying for various types of housing assistance including private/public mortgage financing, and rental assistance. The coordinator also acts as contracting officer for all THBA contracting and construction activities. As well as oversees the preparation of construction and contract documents, plans and specifications for TBHA new development, mondernization, and other projects undertaken by the TBHA.