By Joe Morey
News Editor
Editor's Note: The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board will be holding a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 10:00 am for the new Miskogiizhig Apartments. The ceremony will begin with an opening prayer by LCO Tribal Elder, Dennis White.
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board approved the selection criteria and application process for the new Miskogiizhig Apartments, and the process will also pertain to the Covid homes, trespass homes, HIP homes and Norwood Haven motel rooms.
Motion was made by LCO Vice Chairman Tweed Shuman to approve the Tribal Housing Selection Criteria, Residential Lease Agreement and Operating Budget for the Tribal Housing Division, second by Michelle Beaudin. Motion carried 5-0-1 (Gary Clause abstained from vote).
All those who have already filled out applications will need to contact the tribal office or follow this link, lco-nsn.gov/housing-pre-app, to make some adjustments to your application as the TGB made some amendments to the previously approved process.
Oversite of the homes, apartments and motel rooms will fall under the newly established Tribal Housing Department, not to be confused with the LCO Housing Authority. Applicants will have to pass a screening process whereby they will have to verify they are a tribal member, have verifiable income to be able to pay the rent, and must pass a background check.
Some of that paperwork is included in the application at the link above. Applicants should note that all apartments are smoke and pet free.
The rent for the new apartment building has been established at $450 per month plus utilities, and $650 per month plus utilities for two bedrooms. You may qualify for Section 8. Sawyer County Section 8 would pay 30% of the rent for those who qualify based on their income limits.
The Covid homes have been designated as $500 per month plus utilities and the Norwood Haven motel rooms are $250 per month plus utilities.
The following are required for your application for rental housing to be considered. Please take this form with you and return it with all the documents listed below. These documents must be received for your application to be processed: Documentation of income, pay stubs, or per capita stubs, etc; Proof of LCO Tribal Membership for the applicant; Verification of veteran status; Current criminal history background authorization; First month's rent and one month security deposit due at move in; Authorization for Release of Information from We Energies and Jump River; Any other documentation not listed above that may aide in the determination of eligibility.
The names of all approved applicants will then be randomly drawn for who the available units will be rented too. This process keeps it fair for all approved applicants.
The question of those who have been in the Covid homes came up at the meeting and the TGB members stated that the original intention was for them to have temporary housing while they seeked regular housing.
“They’ve been there a long time and they’ve had time to look somewhere so we have to be fair to those who have been waiting,” TGB member Michelle Beaudin said.
