SAGINAW CHIPPEWA INDIAN TRIBE OF MICHIGAN GUIDELINES
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM
Updated April, 2001
GENERAL PROGRAM GUIDELINES:
1) Two Ways To Qualify:
A) By Income: All household income, other than tribal per capita payments, will be counted. Refer to current fiscal year Federal Poverty Guidelines (150% of poverty level) by family size.
B) By Age: 55 years old or older, in which case income requirements will be waived.
2) Authorization Limits:
Because of the emergency nature of eligible activities, the Program Director is authorized to approve requests up to the maximum grant award amount (see item 5) B) below) without Tribal Council action. The Program Director reserves the right to request review by the Tribal Council, or its designated representative(s) of any application which demonstrates itself to be questionable in terms of eligibility.
3) In addition to a properly completed application form , applicants must also provide documentation substantiating the following:
A) Three bids for the proposed work to be completed
B) Proof of income (if under 55 years old)
C) Proof of homeownership
1) In mixed marriage households, the tribal member must be identified as being either the owner or listed as co-owner of the property.
D) Proof of homeowner insurance except for requests totaling $1,000.00 or less. In those instances, insurance is not required.
E) In the event furnace repair or replacement is needed outside of normal business hours and during the time period of October 1 through May 1, the following protocol will need to be followed:
1) Leave a voice mail message with the Planning Department describing the nature of the emergency, and
2) Providing all required program documentation within 72 hours of said call.
All applications will be subject to the regular program guidelines and applicants subsequently deemed ineligible shall be responsible for the entire cost of the repairs.
4) Geographic Area:
The program is designed to assist tribal members and their families with emergency home repair needs anywhere within the State of Michigan. Out of state requests shall be considered by the Program Director and the Tribal Council or its designated representative on a case by case basis.
5) Other:
A) Only members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe may apply for assistance.
B) Homeowners are eligible to be served by the program only once per fiscal year with a maximum grant award of $2,500.00.
C) Approved projects cannot be paid for out of more than one program year’s funds.
D) Only the principal residence of the applicant will be eligible for assistance. Principal residence is defined as the applicant’s permanent mailing address where they reside for more than six (6) months of the year.
E) Work must be completed by:
1) Licensed Contractor
2) Homeowner
a) In the case of homeowner-completed work, a waiver form must be signed indicating that the applicant is responsible for the soundness of repairs.
F) Payments will be made to vendors only—in no case will applicants directly receive payment for work completed.
G) Family members who contribute labor to a project will not be
reimbursed for their time.
H) Home repairs must be assessed to determine whether or not they
were a result of a condition covered by the homeowner’s insurance. In those situations where the insurance would cover the cost of repairs, this option must first be exhausted prior to the use of any tribal funds to repair the problem.
I) All requests for payments to vendors shall be pre-approved and
authorized by the Program Director. In no instance shall a vendor or homeowner be reimbursed for work completed before authorization was granted, except as provided in section 3) D) above.
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
Eligible activities which constitute emergency repairs under this program will be limited to:
1) Repair or Replacement of Furnace
2) Replacement of Water Heater
3) Repair or Construction of Water Well or Connection to Community Water Supply
4) Repair or Construction of Septic System or Connection to Community Sewage System
5) Electrical repairs if defects in the electrical system were responsible for the failure of the above eligible activities or constitute a safety or fire hazard
All other requests are ineligible unless approved by special action by the Tribal Council.
