Latest news with #ChuckHoskinJr.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CN CONFRONTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Housing security for Cherokee citizens remains one of the highest priorities for the Cherokee Nation and its leaders, and a recent study is helping the tribe map a plan for the future. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said a housing study for the region estimates a $1.75 billion housing deficit for Cherokee citizens in the region. Some of estimated measurements are based on existing programs with applicant demand that hasn't been met. Another part of the study revealed the housing market needs for low-income rental units. 'But all of it reinforces what everyone knows who lives in any community, including Tahlequah, that rents are very high,' Hoskin said. 'Rents are pushing people who are already economically at the margins further to the margins, and sometimes that means they have a financial collapse during a particular month.' Hoskin said housing troubles across the country are often due to the lack of quantity and quality of housing options. A deficit has built up over long periods of time, he said, and he feels no single government is responsible for the overall housing troubles the U.S. is facing. Housing has long been an important issue for Hoskin and Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner. Their first major act after taking office in 2019 was the Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act, which focused on addressing the issue through legislation investing $30 million mostly into housing rehab for elders and those with disabilities, Hoskin said. 'The second phase of the Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act was $120 million,' Hoskin said. 'We are nearly done with that $120 million investment and that's the reason there is a new housing addition here in Tahlequah.' Twenty-four houses have been built in the new Galitsode subdivision near Cedar and Allen roads, and a recent grant for $500,000 will fund two more homes in that development. 'That housing addition is one of several we've built and that is primarily to address those who are on an existing waiting list for new home construction,' Hoskin said. Other Cherokee citizens who own land have applied for the same program, and these multimillion-dollar initiatives through the tribe are serving them as well, Hoskin said. The most recent expansion of the tribe's Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act injects at least $40 million into housing every three years into perpetuity. 'That's $40 million every three years in cycles, so after three years we will do another $40 million,' Hoskin said. 'And the idea is we can't possibly write a check tomorrow to create $1.75 billion worth of homes to fill the estimated deficit.' But over time, he said, the Nation can commit to using its revenue to supplement a paltry amount of federal Indian housing programs. 'The idea is we should be on a path where we can plan for housing and not be erratic in terms of a lot of dollars under this administration, fewer under that administration, but try to be consistent,' Hoskin said. Those that lead the Housing Authority need to plan, and when considering Tahlequah, the Cherokee Nation can see that not only is there a need for home ownership, but also a need for low-income rental units. 'That seems to be a bigger need in the community,' Hoskin said. Citizens can buy homes through a lease-to-own program, Cherokee Nation New Home Construction Program, which started under former Principal Chief Bill John Baker. 'People are moving into those homes for about $600 a month, and over 30 years, that payment will stay at $600,' Hoskin said. 'That includes insurance, and it includes taxes, because even though there are no property taxes there is an opportunity for the local school to get federal impact aid, so there is a backfill of dollars to the school based on the occupancy of that housing addition.' He said the policy was designed to encourage investment into low-income housing, which dates back over 60 years. After 30 years the homeowner will have a home with equity, but they will have paid far less than what that home would cost on the open market, Hoskin said. Though it is rent-to-own, the owner gets a subsidized path to owning the home, Hoskin said. 'It's cheaper than rent. They are buying it for much less to encourage homeownership,' Hoskin said. 'The idea is that investment is worth sort of our collective need to improve housing conditions. The thing that concerns me most is we need to shift a bit toward low-income rental units.' The Birdtail Addition in Tahlequah has also recently been updated, with the previous housing units being replaced with new homes, Hoskin said. 'We've also got 14 homes going into the Autumn Woods Addition near Grand View School,' Hoskin said. The Nation is finalizing an agreement with Tahlequah Habitat For Humanity, with the development of Autumn Woods where some properties are set aside for this organization. 'We are looking for partners and THFH seems to be a very logical partner for this sort of effort for low-income housing,' Hoskin said. 'Homes for Cherokee citizens means homes for Tahlequah citizens and any housing stock we add just adds to the mix.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation presents $7.6 million to school districts
CATOOSA, Okla. (KFOR) — On Tuesday, as part of the tribe's annual Public School Appreciation Day, the Cherokee Nation presented $7.6 million to 107 school districts. The funds are generated from the tribe's Motor Vehicle Tag legislation and compact with the state of Oklahoma. The tribe handles its own tag agency, issuing registration and titles for the Cherokee Nation citizens who live in the Reservation and throughout Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation distributes 38% of its yearly revenue from car tags towards education. They also designate 20% for roads and bridges, and give a percentage to law enforcement. Oklahoma among top 10 states for most expensive weekly grocery costs in study Here is a list of totals by county of how the funds were distributed: Adair County – $581,472.02 Cherokee County – $1,026,519.19 Craig County – $177,085.67 Delaware County – $538,367.10 Mayes County – $552,587.28 Muskogee County – $757,002.35 Nowata County – $95,097.45 Ottawa County – $125,093.14 Osage County – $6,887.90 Rogers County – $743,893.13 Sequoyah County – $664,126.81 Tulsa County – $1,757,525.28 Wagoner County – $294,179.56 Washington County – $273,294.07 Since 2002, the tribe has given $99.7 million to public schools located in the Cherokee Nation Reservation and neighboring counties. 'We made clear from the beginning that we wouldn't cave to demands for a one-size-fits all car tag compact with the state that ignored the unique needs of tribes and overrides tribal sovereignty – and that a fair compact was one that benefitted both the Cherokee Nation and all Oklahomans, and that is evident today as we can support our schools and classrooms,' Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. 'To date, our Cherokee Nation Motor Vehicle Tag Compact has stood as a model, helping our tribe thrive, exercising our sovereign rights and helping our neighbors achieve – especially our public schools, and youth, who will be our future leaders.' Tuesday brought superintendents from across the Reservation for an appreciation luncheon and to receive checks from the tribe for their school districts. 'The Cherokee Nation continues to be an excellent partner in our communities, especially public schools and education, which has always been at the forefront of our tribe,' Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner said. 'The funds from the sales of our tribal car tags provide our teachers what they need in their classrooms and directly invests into the next generation.' School districts can decide how they will use the money from the Cherokee Nation, with school districts in the past choosing to use the money to cover the salaries of teachers, to upgrade school facilities, support operations, expand technology, and to strengthen school programs. 'The support of Cherokee Nation citizens and the hard work of our Cherokee Nation Tax Commission staff have continued to help us make a significant financial impact to our schools,' Cherokee Nation Tax Commission Administrator Sharon Swepston said. 'Each year, the tax commission is very proud to play a role in helping schools throughout Northeastern Oklahoma leave positive and lasting impacts on students and communities.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation to assist individuals with rare diseases
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — With rare diseases affecting 1 in 10 Americans and over 7,000 known conditions, the Cherokee Nation is taking a significant step toward raising awareness and addressing these complex medical challenges. The Cherokee Nation Health Services Rare Disease Task Force recently released its nine-page report outlining progress made over the past year and recommendations the tribe can take in the future to help address the unique challenges faced by patients with rare diseases both on and off the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Established by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., the task force has spent the past year thoroughly examining treatment approaches and developing strategies to enhance care for patients and families affected by rare diseases. 'The work of the Rare Disease Task Force represents our unwavering commitment to provide the most comprehensive care possible for the patients in our health system, including those facing the unique challenges of rare diseases,' Hoskin said. 'The conclusions of our task force not only highlight the significant progress we've made in the past year but also charts a clear path forward to ensure no one is left behind in our health care system.' The Rare Disease Task Force report provided several recommendations and outlined some key accomplishments: The establishment of a committee to evaluate specialty lab availability, including genetic testing for rare disease diagnosis, while adhering to evidence-based medicine protocols. The planning phase for a dedicated research department and the development of system-wide cancer care coordinator positions. Continue to host the tribe's Rare Disease Summit Establish a permanent rare disease advisory group Expand behavioral health and specialty services Develop financial support mechanisms for patients with rare diseases Strengthen data sovereignty and research partnerships to ensure patient information is protected and respected Continue the growth of rare disease case management 'Our hope is that, by implementing the Rare Disease Task Force's recommendations and continually looking for ways to do more, that Cherokee Nation citizens like Meadow will find more comfort and care and recognize that they are not on their journey alone.' Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Since the task force began its work in 2024, Cherokee Nation Health Services has assigned a Registered Nurse as a case manager for rare disease patients. The case manager works closely with the primary care team and specialists to close gaps in care and assist patients with access to critical resources, helping facilitate referrals, durable medical equipment needs, and other necessary services. The Rare Disease Task Force announced the tribe's plan to host its second Rare Disease Summit on June 12. The summit will address the unique challenges facing tribal citizens with rare medical conditions and bring specialty physicians, healthcare professionals, and community members together to discuss key topics and rare diseases impacting the reservation. Registration is required to attend the free summit, and you can complete it by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation makes changes in disaster relief
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation tribe aims to be on the front line in federal disaster relief by addressing key challenges, according to the tribe's recent disaster response task force report. The task force issued a 21-page report outlining recommendations to improve emergency response. The reason the tribe responds quicker and does more than many other governments is that the Cherokee Nation believes in teamwork across agencies, as evidenced by the task force, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a prepared statement. 'We are always willing to look at ourselves critically and find ways to improve,' Hoskin said. 'Disaster response and recovery never falls on one government, even one as adept as Cherokee Nation.' Cherokee Nation Provides Water to Aid Victims of Hurricane Helene Among the task force's recommendations were: Establish clearer authority and accountability for emergency response. Defined quick timelines for issuing an emergency declaration. Perform annual training simulations for key emergency response personnel. Establish a perpetual disaster response fund. The report states these measures will significantly enhance the nation's ability to protect its citizens and infrastructure in natural disasters by addressing these key challenges. Hoskin said his cabinet and Council will work to evaluate and potentially implement the remainder of the task force's recommendations. In a related effort to increase the tribe's services in disaster relief, Cherokee Nation entered into a historic agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide trained response personnel to support FEMA's Supplemental Response Team Program during declared emergencies and disasters. The landmark five-year agreement, signed on Jan. 15, is the first in Indian Country. FEMA will reimburse the Cherokee Nation for costs incurred during these operations. The disaster relief team is comprised of seven Cherokee Nation Emergency Management employees, 15 Incident Management Team members, and 20 individuals who participate in search-and-rescue operations. Hoskin proposed an amendment to the tribe's Emergency Management Act to create the 'Cherokee Nation Community and Citizen Emergency Response Fund.' The proposed fund would begin at $1 million in the current fiscal year and build up to a cap of $5 million over time. The fund would mitigate individual and community losses due to disasters, such as loss of food, shelter, or other disaster-related economic impact, and purchase relevant equipment and supplies. 'Certainly, we have had emergency response funds in place for years,' said Deputy Chief Warner. 'But this proposal gives that funding more structure and helps us build up the funding over time.' 'When disaster strikes, the Cherokee people need assurances that funds are available to assist in recovery and that the funds will be distributed quickly,' said Council Deputy Speaker Kevin Easley Jr. Cherokee Councilor Danny Callison, the measure's co-sponsor, said last spring's tornadoes tested the tribe's emergency response operations and revealed improvement opportunities. The proposed legislation also provides that the tribes' new 'Gadugi Corps' disaster response volunteer network be 'activated' during a declared disaster to assist with response and recovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
