TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Community Meetings Rescheduled
Due to weather conditions, the
community meetings with Tribal Coun
cil had to be rescheduled. The dates
Feb. 2 - Siletz Tribal Center - During
the General Council Meeting
Feb. 12 - Eugene Area Office - 6 p.m.
for the community meetings are listed
Agenda items include:
below:
Jan. 15 - Portland Area Office - 6 p.m.
Jan. 28 - Salem RV Park - 6 p.m.
1. Constitutional Election Information
2. STBC Update
3. Contract Health
Correction
In the December issue of Siletz News, the article on the Siletz Tribal
Youth Conference 2007 contained errors on the following:
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Walt Klamath's name was spelled incorrectly.
Juliene Joseph and Delina John led the Mixing It Up Activities.
Rachelle Endres and Delina John led the Smudging Class.
personal Finance and Real Estate
Yvonne Messmer, Housing Finance Manager
503-390-9494 or toll free 888-870-9051
Down Payment Assistance
Program
How Do I Know if I am Ready to Buy a
Home?
CTSI s program provides down payment and
closing cost assistance to qualifying below
median income households and leverages other
private funding.
You can find out by asking yourself some questions:
* Do I have a steady source of income (usually a
job)?
* Have I been employed on a regular basis for the
last 2-3 years?
* Is my current income reliable?
* Do I have a good record of paying my bills?
* Do I have few or no outstanding debts (like car
payments)?
* Do I have money saved for a down payment?
* Do I have the ability to pay a mortgage every
month, plus additional costs? If you answered yes to
these questions, then you might be ready. Give me
a call to find out about the Down Payment
Assistance Program and what it can help you with!
Tribal Members may apply to the Down
Payment Assistance Program (DPA) at any
time. Applications will be processed on a first-
come, first-served basis. CTSI does not charge
a fee for application or use of the DPA Program,
however, there are costs associated with the
purchase of a home. DPA is awarded in the
form of a forgivable loan as evidenced by a
recorded Trust Deed against the subject
property.
Do You Have A Bank Account?
Are you fortunate enough to have a bank account that makes your life a little easier?
If not, I may be able to help. There are many reasons to have a bank account- safety,
ability to earn interest, ability to track your expenses, somewhere to cash checks and
ability to write checks instead of using money orders.
The main reason someone may not have a bank account is because they are on Chex
Systems. Chex Systems is what banks use to report negative banking activity to other
banks. Most banks won't open an account for you if you are on Chex Systems Be very wary
of any institution that would open an account for some on Chex Systems
Depending on your situation, I may be able to help you work thru your issues with a
local bank and make you bankable. Being bankable is one of the first steps to becoming
financially healthy.
Siletz News regrets the errors.
What to Do If You Feel Like
Foreclosure Will Strike
In recent years, many of us have
been given the opportunity to get a
mortgage. For some, that opportunity
may be turning into a nightmare. If for
whatever reason you feel like you may
not be able to pay your mortgage or if
you are in foreclosure, here are some
things to consider.
Always Good Advice
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Store your records in an organized,
safe place. These would include:
• All documents associated with
the purchase
• Property tax bills and receipts
• Property insurance declarations
pages and policies
• Any correspondence from your
mortgage lender - not junk mail
Pay bills with checks, money or
ders or electronic transfers.
• Do not send cash.
• Do not pay with a credit card.
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Keep a record of all payments
made.
• Always look at statements and
correct errors quickly.
Pay high priority bills first (if not
all bills).
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Basic food, save eating out as
a special treat
• Mortgage and any loans with
your home as collateral
• Utilities (try to conserve as
much as possible)
• Then pay credit cards and other
debts - even just the minimum
amount due.
When you know you will have trouble
with your mortgage;
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Talk to your mortgage lender.
• This is the single best thing you
can do to help yourself. They
may have other mortgage op
tions that could help you. Be
cautious about refinancing.
• Do not try to hide from trouble,
it will find you.
• Explain what has caused the
change - loss of job, illness, vari
able rate mortgage adjustment.
• Take notes of all conversations
about foreclosure and any
correspondence.
• Get in contact with a housing
counseling agency or call
Yvonne Messmer from CTSI at
1-888-870-9051.
Budget - Budget - Budget
• Expenses
• Write down every penny
spent and create a budget
from your tracking.
• Constantly review your
budget with household
members. Make any neces
sary changes. Get everyone
to stick to the budget.
• Cancel cell phones, cable TV
or other luxury expenses.
• Weatherize your home to
conserve on utilities.
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Income
• Claim the earned income
tax credit if you arc eligible.
• Stop any voluntary deduc
tions out of your paycheck.
• Sell household items to
raise money - like sports
equipment and vehicles.
• Get a roommate who can
pay rent.
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Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
Look in the back of closets, under sinks, around windows and in comers for mildew
build up and address the problem
Dust off or clean electric space heaters
Check all smoke detectors and replace needed batteries
Check window and door caulking or weather stripping
Clean forced air vents for maximum output
Check caulking around tub and sinks. Replace any old
or cracked caulking
Clean leaves from gutters. Make sure water can flow freely
Cover any outside water faucets with proper weather proofing
Check furnace filters Replace any dirty or built up filters
Check your trees and fences for storm damage.
2008 Standing Committee
Applications Due
Deadline for consideration for 2008 committees is
Jan. 31, 2008
Any tribal member interested in serving on a committee for a two-year
term must fill out the following form and return it to the address below prior
to Jan. 31. 2008. Please mail or fax your application to Confederated Tribes
of Siletz Indians, Attn: Executive Secretary to Tribal Council. P.O. Box 549,
Siletz, OR 97380-0549; Fax: 541-444-8325.
Name:
Address:
City:
Telephone: Day (
Roll No.:
State:
) Evening (
ZIP:
)
Choose the first, second and third choice of committees you arc request
ing by numbering your preference I, 2. 3 in the space provided. If you only
want to request one committee, please indicate this by inserting the num
ber 1.
Education Committee (3)
Natural Resources Committee (3)
Health Committee (3)
Cultural Heritage Committee (3)
____ Housing Committee (3)
____ Pow-Wow Committee
(no limit)
____ Budget Committee (1)
Tribal Council will review applications and approve appointments at the
Regular Tribal Council meeting in February 2008. If you have any ques
tions. please call Tribal Council’s Executive Secretary. Tami Miner, al
1-800-922-1399. ext. 1203. or 541-444-8203.
January 2008
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Siletz News
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