The Lumbee Tribe's accomplishments and highlights for 2023; New Residential Services Department coming soon

By Staff Report, posted Jan 29, 2024 on BizFayetteville.com

The Lumbee Tribe connected with more than 27,000 Tribal citizens this past year through programs and services. Chairman John L. Lowery also updated several programs in 2023 to make services available to more families.

“As I began my second year as Chairman, the momentum continued as we improved and increased support for our families,” said Chairman Lowery in a press release. “I am thankful for our staff's hard work, and the efforts of the Tribal Council, who work daily to meet the needs of our Lumbee Citizens. Our accomplishments in 2023 reflect a thorough look at where our Tribal Citizens need support.”

Three major changes include doubling the available Down Payment Assistance amount to a maximum of $20,000, a policy change which allows families to build homes on land that is not road frontage and passing of a $39 million budget that includes a Residential Services Department which will focus on transitioning families from rental housing to permanent housing.

Lumbee Tribe Accomplishments from 2023 include:

Historic policy change allows families to build homes on land that is not road frontage
Creation of the new Health and Human Services Department
Constructed the 250th home, which was built for Lumbee Citizen homeownership
Energy Department outreach exceeds $1.3 million in relief for 7,000 clients
Concession Market building constructed at Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center
“Dance of the Harvest Moon” Powwow welcomed approximately 5,000 visitors to the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center
Passed a $39 million budget
Doubled the available Down Payment Assistance amount to a maximum of $20,000 to offset increasing cost for first time home buyers
Worked with the North Carolina General Assembly in the creation of House Resolution 499 to encourage passage of Lumbee Fairness Act
Currently have more than 260 tribes on record in support of the Lumbee Fairness Act
Chairman Lowery and the Lumbee Tribal Council hosted 19 Community Meetings
Constructed walking paths at Southern Spirit (Back Swamp) and Two Streams (Prospect), each includes a shelter
Served approximately 805 youth in grades K - 12 with U.S. Department of Education grant programs
Appointed Eric Freeman to Supreme Court of the Lumbee Tribe
Published Lumbee Today Newsletters – Spring/Summer and Fall 2023
Lumbee Holdings, Inc. created a fourth business called Lumbee Support Solutions, LLC
$2 Million in infrastructure work completed at Cheraw Acres (Hoke County) and Bear Creek (Parkton)
Dedicated new Administrative Building and celebrated Pine Needle Senior Village, which is coming to the Rowland Community
Hosted Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s Inaugural Gala to support full Federal Recognition
Worked with Congress to introduce Lumbee Fairness Act, which would provide full recognition and associated federal protections to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
Welcomed new community partnerships - LREMC - $200,000 commitment to the Lumbee Tribe over the next five years, Lumbee Guaranty Bank - $100,000 toward Cultural Center renovations and Duke Energy Foundation - $150,000 grant
Held first Lumbee Day at North Carolina General Assembly
Held first Lumbee Night with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Collaborated with Amazon to offer Lumbee Tribal Members free Amazon Prime accounts
27 families served with transitional housing (housing for 90 days)
71 families provided housing Financial education workshops
Awarded $99,000 in scholarships to 186 Lumbee College Students
Awarded 216 Student Housing Vouchers, which paid housing for Lumbee College Students
Provided 32 rental homes to Veterans and their families
Built 12 new homes for individuals in the Homeownership program
Assisted 48 families with down payment assistance to purchase a home
Rehabilitated 217 homes for homeowners
Managed 474 mortgages for tribal citizens
Built 13 homes for rental use
Lumbee Tribal Security conducted more than 2550 wellness checks for elders and Veterans at tribal housing unit
Welcomed 8,000 visitors to the Lumbee Aquatics Center
The Boys & Girls club served 515 students during regular programs and summer camps
Served 2046 Veterans through their Veterans Services programs
Extended Tribal Enrollment hours on Monday nights to better serve tribal citizens
Updated pool at Aquatic Center by adding steps and canopies
Updated Cultural Center Playground by installing rubber surfacing and concrete pathways for handicapped accessibility
Provided food and goods to 1600 families through collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.C.
Purchased land in the Rennert and Maxton Communities for homes

Lumbee families now have more opportunities to have a home following groundbreaking and

construction at five upcoming housing communities; including Dreamcatcher Arrowpoint (Pembroke), Cheraw Acres (Hoke County) and Bear Creek (Parkton), Raynham Tribal Community and Pine Needles Senior Village (Rowland).

The Lumbee Tribe also received $2.95 million from the state budget, for the Lumbee Tribe Agricultural and Natural Resources Department, “Strike at the Wind!” Outdoor Drama and revitalization at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center.

The Lumbee Tribe was awarded $7.4 million from the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency to construct 30 homes.

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