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Housing Department
The duties of the Housing Department are to administrate and financially manage all the housing programs, secure funding, submit reports to the appropriate people, assist Band Members, Homeowners and Tenants with their requests and/or concerns, work with contractors, work with CMHC, INAC, North Shore Tribal Council, financial institution representatives and other programs within the Batchewana First Nation office Rhonda A LeSage, Housing Director Dee-Anna Hewson, Housing Assistant Erin Syrette, Tenant Liaison Worker Carl Lesage, Maintenance Worker Ken Boyer, Construction Project Manager The Housing Department oversees and manages the following Housing Programs: Rankin Reserve Community Services Rental Housing Program, Royal Bank Mortgage Program, Batchewana First Nation Turn Key Program, CMHC Section 95 Program, Renovation Program, RRAP and HASI. Rankin Reserve Community Services Rental Units (RRCS) - This is a non-profit corporation receiving financial assistance from the government of Canada (CMHC). This program consists of 54 rental units, which consist of one and two bedroom apartments and three-bedroom single dwellings. Batchewana First Nation Turn Key Program - Previously, the Batchewana First Nation constructed 39 homes with limited input from the homeowners. The homeowner pays the mortgage to the BFN office until the mortgage is paid in full, at which time the BFN will issue the homeowner a Certificate of Possession. Royal Bank Mortgage Program - A BFN members will get a letter of verification from the Housing Department to attend the Royal Bank to apply for a mortgage. If the Band Member meets the bank criteria the BFN Chief and Council will guarantee the mortgage and the Band Member constructs their own home. To date, we have had 16 BFN members successfully follow through with this program. Renovation Program - BFN members living on the Reserve may apply for a renovation loan up to $20,000 to renovate their home. This loan plus interest is amortized over a maximum period of five years. The applicant must meet the BFN criteria and be approved by the CAO, then the borrower must transfer the Certificate of Possession to the BFN until the loan is paid in full. At that time the CP will be issued back to the Band Member. CMHC Section 95 Program (non profit) - This is the new Rent-To-Own Program that is funded through the CMHC. Last year we constructed 18 homes and are in the process of constructing 26 homes this year. Once the mortgage is paid in full, a CP will be issued to the home owner. Elders' Complex - The Elders' Complex consists of a total of 10 units, 6 one-bedrooms and 4 two-bedrooms. Applications for RRCS Rentals, Rent to Own, Renovations and Elders Complex can be picked up and returned to the Front Desk at the Batchewana First Nation Office. Also, we do make applications to the CMHC for other funding programs such as RRAP, HASI. If Batchewana First Nation members are interested in any of the above Housing Programs, please contact Rhonda, Dee-Anna, or Erin at 759-0914 ext. 229 or ext. 228. |
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