TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner are proposing a permanent reauthorization of the tribe’s landmark Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act, with the proposed expansion going before the Council of the Cherokee Nation on Sept. 26.
“We must acknowledge that we have a housing crisis, and we must ask whether or not Cherokee Nation should lead on the issue, or fall behind,” said Chief Hoskin. “Our proposal forces us to face the crisis and commits the resources to help solve it.”
In 2019, the Council of the Cherokee Nation enacted Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner’s first Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act, which injected $30 million to boost the tribe’s housing rehabilitation program and repair and remodel Cherokee community organization buildings.
The Council approved amendments to the law in 2022, boosting HJSCA funds to $120 million, which included $60 million to build new homes. The tribe has built 363 new homes, with more in the planning phases. Additionally the law has led to thousands of home repairs for low-income and elder Cherokee citizens. The tribe used funds under the American Rescue Plan Act to fund the 2022 law.
The current law expires at the end of September 2025.
“Our housing act has delivered impactful results for the Cherokee people,” said Deputy Chief Warner. “The time has come to put our efforts on a permanent footing so that we can better plan and deliver even better results.”
Under the new proposed HJSCA, the tribe would spend up to $40 million in three-year cycles, adopting plans to address housing and community building needs. Housing would command 85% of the spending, with 15% reserved for the tribe’s sustainable communities portion of the program for community building improvement and construction.
The proposal would primarily use profits from Cherokee Nation Businesses as a funding source, as well as potential periodic federal funding opportunities outside of annual federal Indian housing dollars and other funding sources that may become available. The law reserves for the Council its authority to adjust funding downward during any three-year cycle if economic and fiscal conditions at the tribe changes.
Chief Hoskin proposed the idea in his August 31, 2024 State of the Nation Address. In his address, Chief Hoskin said the tribe’s forthcoming housing study would show a $1.75 billion housing deficit over the next decade. The study will be released later this month.
Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh praised the idea and is among the legislation’s sponsors.
“We have seen more homes built in the last five years than any five-year period in Cherokee history,” said Speaker Shambaugh. “That is a result of Cherokee leaders listening to the people and working together to solve problems.”
The legislation will be heard at the Council’s Rules Committee on September 26 and, if approved, at a special council meeting held later that same day.