The Comanche Nation Housing Authority doubled the number of tribal members served in 2022 through three programs that focus on elders. (Photo by Zohair Mirza via Unsplash)
LAWTON – The Comanche Nation Housing Authority reached more than 2,430 tribal members in 2022 through its Elder Rehabilitation Program, Elder Outreach Program and Home Improvement Emergency Repair Program.
CNHA is a Comanche Nation-affiliated organization that promotes self-sufficiency and provides affordable, safe and decent housing to low-income tribal members.
“Our team, that includes the Comanche Nation Business Committee and program staff, consistently innovates our programs and strategies in order to optimize our outreach,” said Russell Sossamon, executive director of CNHA. “This year we collectively recognized a dire need for each of these specific programs and made an effort to maximize our resources. We successfully doubled the number of tribal members we reached throughout all three programs in 2022.”
CNHA assisted more than 1,347 Comanche Nation elders in 2022, serving a total of 347 tribal members through its Elder Rehabilitation Program and extending support to more than 1,000 members through its Elder Outreach Program. The Home Improvement Emergency Repair Program, or HIP, provided service to 1,083 tribal members, twice as many as last year.
“Through our continued efforts to serve our tribal members and community, we strive to prioritize our elders,” Sossamon said. “Ensuring they have convenient access to safe and functionable housing, helps strengthen and unify our overall community.”
As one of CNHA’s newest programs, the Elder Outreach Program was launched in late 2021 to optimize the Elder Rehabilitation Programs outreach through streamlining the process for elders to request assistance. The program also provides them with support for general issues and tasks unrelated to housing.
The Elder Rehabilitation Program assists with a variety of repair and construction services that enhance habitability, including handicap accessibility services that pertain to wider doorways, wheelchair ramps, accessible showers, bathroom railing, handicap toilets and easy-use plumbing fixtures.
The program includes upgrades and replacements to assist with meeting safe and livable standards, including storm shelters, windows, roofs, siding, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, interior and exterior doors, flooring, appliances, and electrical and plumbing fixtures.
HIP assists with emergency repairs that present an immediate threat to life and limb or excessive damage to property. The emergency repairs include plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical and roofing.
The Comanche Nation Housing Authority also provides rental and housing assistance to low-income and other enrolled members of the Comanche Nation through a number of its service programs, including the down payment and closing cost grant, rental program, student housing program and homeownership lease purchase program. CNHA operates in seven counties – Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Kiowa, Tillman, Stephens and Grady. For more information, go to www.comanchehousing.com.