Federal housing representatives congratulate Lumbee Tribe on successful housing program during Pembroke visit

By Staff Report, posted Mar 15, 2024 on BizFayetteville.com

Neil Whitegull, Eastern Woodlands Area Administrator for PIH's Office of Native American Programs (EWONAP), Richard J. Monocchio, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), and Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery visit a newly constructed home in the new Dreamcatcher Pembroke community. Photo provided by: The Lumbee Tribe of NC

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), Richard J. Monocchio, visited the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s Housing Complex on Thursday, March 7, 2024 to spotlight the Lumbee Tribe’s Housing program.

It was Deputy Assistant Secretary Monocchio’s first visit to the Lumbee Tribal Territory. He was joined by Neil Whitegull, Eastern Woodlands Area Administrator for PIH's Office of Native American Programs (EWONAP), along with EWONAP Grants Management Team Lead Mary White.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Monocchio congratulated the Lumbee Tribe Administration and construction teams for their resourceful and creative use of funds.

“There are so many skilled trades people here onsite and in the tribal community and they are actually building the houses too, so it is really a way to build capacity and

stretch the dollar," said Richard J. Monocchio in a press release. “If somebody is in trouble with their mortgage or their rent, they are providing rental assistance, they have financial literacy programs, you’ve got seven Boys & Girls Clubs, so it is really about holistic community building and taking care of people.”

Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery discussed tribal programs and traveled with the delegation on a tour of tribal communities.

"Having Secretary Monocchio and his staff visit our tribal territory and to see all the progress we are making for the Lumbee people is an honor for our tribe and staff,” said Lowery in a press release. “Our staff works hard to ensure our different housing programs are providing quality services to thousands of tribal members each

year. I am especially proud of our Homeownership and Down Payment Assistance programs."

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina began receiving HUD - Housing and Urban Development funds in 2001.

Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery talks with Richard J. Monocchio, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), and a delegation from HUD about Lumbee Tribal Services as they tour the Pembroke Boys & Girls Club.
Photo provided by: The Lumbee Tribe of NC

Since a Lumbee family moved into the first constructed home in August of 2004, the Lumbee Tribe’s Housing Program has grown to add communities across the four county Lumbee Tribal Territory.

Homeownership – 258 Homes and 6 under construction - 7 sites (5 Homeownership communities completed and 2 sites in the civil planning stage.)
Rental – 257 Units - 10 sites plus 2 tax credit sites (Arrowpoint and Pembroke Senior Village), and two land purchases in civil planning stage.
Home Repairs - 4,322 families served - 3,742 Non-emergency rehabilitation of homes, 390 Mobile Home Replacements, 152 Disaster Relief Emergency Rehabilitation of Homes following H. Mathew and H. Florence, 38 Essential Single Families Rehabilitation of homes through the NC Housing Finance Agency.
Down Payment – 1,012 Lumbee Families received Down Payment assistance. Approximately 50 per year.
College Housing Vouchers – 871 college students received housing assistance. This program began during the Spring Semester of 2019.
Completed the 250th home built for Homeownership in June 2023.

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