Umatilla Tribe Program of the Year: Roloff's Homeownership Efforts Honored as Top Program

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MISSION, OREGON: Barbara Roloff's Homeownership Program, which has taught more than 80 individuals about financial responsibility - the first step toward owning a home, was honored Dec. 19 as the Program of the Year on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The two-year-old program, part of the Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority managed by Paul Rabb, offers counseling as well as classes for tribal members and employees to learn, among other things, savings goals, spending plans, banks, credit reports, interest rates, insurance and mortgage loans and consumer rights.

Roloff has also ushered tribal members along the path to homeownership, from acquiring land and obtaining loans to seeing construction of houses.

At the banquet, a surprised Roloff was speechless. She later provided comments for he CUJ:

"I couldn't formulate the words on Friday (Dec. 19) to say thank you to everyone. I want to accept this award on behalf of this community and all the people who participated in the financial and homebuyer classes, including the many community stakeholders and department staff who help make this program successful.

"Those who have participated understand that this is not an easy path to follow so really they deserve all the accolades for their hard work.

"It has been a wonderful journey for me to help at a grassroots lever. I congratulate the people who took the difficult path to home ownership, but now they can be role models for others. These classes not only help build wealth and equity, but the also allow people to protect themselves from predatory lenders as well as learning personal finance to save and invest. Our program is about pride and doing it on your own. I love my job, but we have a lot more to achieve."

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URHA receives federal grant to expand homeownership program

MISSION, OREGON: A $211,500 federal grant will be used for additional homeownership support services at the Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority (URHA).

The grant will provide money for three years to hire a second employee in the program, which is coordinated by Barbara Roloff, URHA Homeownership Counselor.

The new person will package mortgage loans, help with trust-land conflicts and contribute to homeownership classes.

"We'll be working as a team," said Roloff, who will start in the next series of financial literacy classes this month.

Paul Rabb, UHRA director, said the grant will be used for salary, equipment and supplies.

"This is another step to help tribal members attain home ownership," Rabb said. "Overall, this position will help people process a home loan, from beginning with land to closing a home loan."

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded more than $44 million in grants in December to help public and tribal housing residents become economically self-sufficient and give elderly and people with disabilities supportive services to allow them to live independently. [Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Program--ROSS Program]

In addition to the federal grants, Washington Mutual recently awarded $20,000 to URHA to continue financial literacy classes. This brings the total contribution by Washington Mutual to $38,000 over the last three years.

"Washington Mutual also has come on board to do lending on the reservation," said Roloff, noting that Wells Fargo was the first mortgage company to offer loans on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Meanwhile, a waiting list exists for financial literacy classes…More than 85 people have participated in the classes, which teach money management, savings, goals, credit report, insurance, predatory lending and how to develop a spending plan.

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Roloff Thanks Counseling Program Partners

Barbara Roloff, in receiving the award, had many people and agencies to thank, Including:

Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority (URHA) Commission
Paul Rabb, URHA Director
URHA staff and particularly Robin Heehn
Wells Fargo Mortgage
Washington Mutual
Banner Bank
USDA Rural Development
US Housing and Urban Development
US Veterans Administration
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Schools Plus Community Credit Union
Auto Solutions
Bank of America
Bank of Easter Oregon
Trustime Retirement Plan Specialists Inc.
Consumer Credit Counseling
Legal Aide
Umatilla County Board of Realtors
Credit Professionals International Association
Oregon Housing & Community Services
First Nations Development Institute
National American Indian Housing Council
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Indian Health Service
Wildhorse Resort & Casino

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) departments and programs: Economic and Community Development, Small Business, CUJ, Personal and Workforce Department, Planning, Cultural Resources and Education.