Our Housing Challenge is a Public Health Challenge

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By Chuck Hoskin Junior

March 16, 2025

Guest feedback. We are the biggest period of housing investment in the history of the Cherokee nation. If we think of our residential challenges as healthcare challenges, we can move even more.

Our mass housing investment is due to historical Housing, jobs and sustainable communities Act 2019. We started in 2019 with a $ 30 million investment in housing recovery for the elderly and in new community buildings where our elders often gather. In 2022, we inserted 120 million Million Million in new housing programs. Last year we made the law permanentFor the reasons for housing and social facilities, every three years, with a Million 40 million commitment, the profit of the Chero Nation business and the top profit of the federal funds is paid.

Progress on accommodation takes time, and the construction of lasting change is not easy. Together, we have created meaningful milestones through the Housing Authority of the Cheroki nation. Since 2020, we have launched or completed more than 500 new houses, 2,500 housing rehabilitation projects, and our team responded to more than 1,300 emergencies after hours of calls.

In addition, our investment of $ 34 million Special program for first -language fluffy speakers Extension of our modern village for more than 1,700 individual home repairs and alternative projects and cheerleaders in Phalaya.

Deputy Chief Brian Warner and I believe in facts and transparency, so that we all face challenges. Last year, Our own residential studies have revealed that we have a residence requirement of $ 75 1.75 billion Across the reservations across

Our studies show that we have more work. HJSCA, with his million 40 million commitments that renews every three years, will be the real center of how we solve the housing gap over time. We, too, will continue to invest federal funds. But, sadly, the Congress funds the federal Indian housing programs at the same level as it adjusted for inflation 25 years ago. Nevertheless, we are on the path to serious progress.

When I visit the Cherokee communities where housing needs are clear and I hear the stories of citizens who strive to pay a rent or find a way home ownership, I realize that we need to go beyond the historical effort we have already planted.

We need to understand our residential challenges as a health challenge. By doing so, we can think even more about the role of cheroches in the construction of the community – and even more deeply.

Lack of housing or housing that is non -standard affects health. A recent Overview of the Research Most of us know through the US Department of Health and Human Services: Eomaving Housing, Stability, Quality and Safety – as well as homes in their palaces – they can either negatively or positively affect a person’s health and, in turn, can affect a community’s health.

Chak Hoskin is the Principal Chief of the Junior Cherokee nation.

Fortunately, we have another historical tribal law that in the name of health, can help us go more to accommodation: Health and Welfare Fund Act. Implent in 2022, PHWFA worked 7 % of our third -party health insurance collection for health and health care programs and initiatives.

The PHWFA fund has an extra money, and we need to invest in some of the housing and external entertainment. We can build cheap housing, small parks and community buildings in these communities (some of the public safety stations), in which, in many cases, have not seen any such investment for generations. We will not only add to our residential stock, but we will also create a sense of society, safety, relationship and hope. By tapping at least $ 30 million PHWFA surplus in the next few years, we can have a huge impact.

We are still based on our thinking about “housing as public health”, but we are already getting amazing opportunities. The acquisition of recent land in the keys and the lost city means that we can work with these communities so that it can be eliminated and replaced by accommodation, community buildings and external entertainment.

With Keeboy And Lost cityWe have designated the land that we owned for a long time South Kofi WillFor, for, for,. VanataFor, for, for,. Jay And Sally bull hollow Since there are “housing and welfare reserves”, laying a marker that these sites are the best of the same investment. We continue to review the communities across the reservation for similar positions.

It’s very clear: We have a lot of work, and we are just getting warm. With the Public Health and Welfare Fund Act on houses, jobs and sustainable communities and books, we have tools and resources to move forward with courage.

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