PRP.9.4.030 Qualiﬁed Expenses

For the purposes of this chapter the maximum amount of assistance for each tribal member and for each primary dwelling shall not exceed $30,000. The eligible tribal member may not receive the total maximum amount. The maximum benefit is based on the eligible and reasonable repairs as deemed by the ARPA Program manager and subject to review by the Tribal Governing Board.

HAF Program Funds may only be used for the following types of qualiﬁed expenses that are for the purpose of preventing the displacement of homeowners experiencing ﬁnancial hardship, after January 21, 2020:

(a) Mortgage payment assistance. The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe will provide full or partial payment assistance to homeowners unable to make full mortgage payments due to a continuing financial hardship associated with the Coronavirus pandemic. HAF funds will be used to reduce a homeowner's monthly mortgage/loan payments for a period up to 12 months or until the Maximum Amount of Assistance is reached. HAF funds will only be used to supplement other loss mitigation measures offered by the servicer or where HAF funds are necessary for the homeowner to qualify for other such loss mitigation measures. Funds will be paid, as applicable, to the mortgage servicer or other third-party payee authorized by the servicer, or other third party authorized to collect eligible charges in accordance with reinstatement instructions received from the payee.

(b) Payment assistance for delinquent property taxes to prevent homeowner tax foreclosures. Payment assistance will be provided for delinquent property taxes to prevent homeowner tax foreclosures. Funds will be paid to resolve any property charge default that threatens a homeowner's ability to sustain ownership of the property, whether concurrently with other loss mitigation options offered by the loan servicer or in conjunction with other assistance programs. HAF Funds may be used to brought current by program assistance or resolved concurrently with the program providing assistance. Funds may also be used to pay property charges coming due in the 90 days following program approval. Funds will be paid directly to the appropriate County Office.

(c) Measures to prevent homeowner displacement, such as home repairs to maintain the habitability of a home or assistance to enable homeowners to age in place.

Each Homeowner will be eligible with respect to the applicant's primary residence, including a dwelling to be made habitable so it may serve as the homeowner's primary residence, or improvements that allow a senior to age in place. Assistance will be provided to homeowners to ensure the habitability of the home through reasonable repairs and other renovations that increase the useful life of the dwelling and reasonable home repair expenses to the homeowner's primary residence as necessary to restore the property to habitable condition or to resolve housing/property code violations. HAF Funds may be used to pay the reasonable cost of repairs necessary to address property conditions, including pre-development costs, necessary architectural or engineering fees, construction oversight, or other costs incidental but necessary to the completion of the eligible scope of work. The Tribe will utilize HAF administrative funds to provide technical assistance to the homeowner (e.g., identifying and contracting for the necessary repair work).

Eligible Property Conditions:

● Property will continue to be the applicant's owner-occupied primary residence once the repairs are made.

● Properties that have outstanding violations may receive assistance if corrections are addressed before funding or are included in the scope of work funded by the program.

● Housing deficiencies or conditions exist which may be hazardous to occupants/residents,

● Property has a code violation or other citation, or is in danger of being cited or condemned, without the necessary repair,

● Property is uninhabitable or condemned and the repair is necessary to make the home habitable, OR

● Home improvements are necessary to improve accessibility and help senior residents age in place.

● Repairs will be completed by a professional local contractor found to be qualified and reputable in accordance with reasonable criteria established by the Tribe;

● Copy of contract must be provided to the program for approval, or homeowners and contractors must use a program-approved contract template.

● Projects must comply with applicable building and other applicable code requirements.

Funds will be paid directly to the general contractor or entity responsible for the repairs/ installation upon satisfactory completion of the work. HAF technical assistance funds will be utilized to ensure reasonable oversight of the quality and completion of work will be performed before full payment is made.

(d) Reimbursement of funds expended by a state, local government, or entity described in clause (3) or (4) of the deﬁnition above of "eligible entity" during the period beginning on January 21, 2020, and ending on the date that the ﬁrst funds are disbursed by the Tribe under the HAF Program, for a qualiﬁed expense (other than any qualiﬁed expense paid directly or indirectly by another federal funding source, or any qualiﬁed expenses described in clauses; and

(e) Planning, community engagement, needs assessment, and administrative expenses related to disbursement of HAF Program Funds for qualiﬁed expenses, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 15% of the funding from the HAF Program received by the Tribe.