Umatilla homeownership program wins national award

A homeownership program started by the Confederated Umatilla Tribes of Oregon was recognized at the Home Ownership Participation for Everyone Awards last week.

The Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority won the Education Award for the "Wapayatat" program Wapayatat, which means "to learn" in Umatilla, educates tribal members learn about savings, budgeting, credit reports, interest rates and predatory lending.

By participating in the program, tribal members can obtain 30-year mortgages. "The tools are here for home ownership," Marcus Luke II, a counselor, told The East Oregonian.

Wapayatat was the only tribal program to win an award. It comes with a $10,000 honorarium.

Get the Story:
Reservation's homeownership program earns national recognition (The East Oregonian 5/29)

Relevant Links:
Office of Public and Indian Housing, HUD - http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih
National American Indian Housing Council - http://naihc.net

Related Stories:
Explosions destroy home on Rocky Boy Reservation (05/03)
House approves bill to extend Indian home loans (04/25)
NAIHC hosts annual legislative conference in DC (02/13)
Jodi Rave: Without funds, NAIHC fires half of staff (2/9)
Navajo Nation selects new CEO for housing authority (2/9)
Pequot family first to receive loan for housing (1/31)
Yakama man named head of Indian housing group (01/12)
Ex-Indian housing aide doesn't recall Abramoff (12/11)
Editorial: Bickering stalls Navajo housing (11/24)
Opinion: Downfall of top Navajo housing official (11/23)
Mashantucket Tribe helps families own homes (09/28)
Native homebuyers on the rise, data shows (9/26)
NAIHC to launch homebuyer website at briefing (9/25)
Mescalero Apache Nation awarded housing funds (08/30)
Jodi Rave: HUD releases block grants for tribes (07/10)
Judge clarifies HUD decision on funding freeze (7/6)
SCIA letter criticizes HUD Indian housing freeze (7/3)
Small tribes affected most by freeze of HUD funds (6/30)
Bush holds back housing money from tribes (6/29)
Jodi Rave: Tribal housing hurt by HUD decision (6/29)
Indian Affairs Committee hearing on housing (6/28)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing (06/26)
Indian home loan program expands to more states (06/20)
Upcoming Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings (06/12)
Indian housing training funds slated for cut (3/2)
Special Interests: Lobbying for Indian housing (3/2)
Program to help urban Indians become homeowners (02/27)
Upcoming Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings (09/12)
Former HUD official Liu drops lobbying effort (09/01)
HUD expands home loan program in Oregon (08/08)
Aloha! Michael Liu leaving HUD for private sector (05/05)
Senators question Bush administration's budget cuts (02/17)
Native veterans question Bush administration budget (02/17)
Official cites 'tight' budget for Indian housing (2/9)
Indian housing funds see no major increase (11/24)
Congress restores Bush's cuts to Indian programs (11/22)
Bush says housing program he's cutting is 'working' (08/12)
Tribes challenge policy affecting federal housing funds (05/04)
Indian housing funds face cuts in Bush budget (04/14)
Tribes tackle budget woes under Bush administration (4/13)
Housing campaign seeks to build 100,000 homes (02/27)
Senate panel shares criticism of Bush budget (02/12)
Tribal leaders pressing Congress on funding (02/11)
Native American Bank offers new mortgage program (01/21)
Indians fight discrimination when renting homes (11/21)
Indian housing funds face more scrutiny (3/4)
Bush budget restricts spending on Indian Country (02/10)
Senate clears new funds for Indian programs (01/24)
Housing scarce for thousands of Indian families (01/22)
Indian housing bill signed into law (11/15)
A busy year for Congress on Indian affairs (10/22)
Senate renews Indian housing law (10/8)
Court rules tribes immune from discrimination law (8/14)
Bush names Liu to Indian housing post (6/22)
Native Corp. to appeal housing denial (6/4)
Alaska Native housing plan rejected (5/29)
Audit: Alaska Native dorm improperly approved (4/17)
HUD Budget: No big benefit for Indian Country (4/12)
Martinez to clean HUD house (2/21)