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Special Assistance

These are the relief programs that are currently available. Click on each item for more information and links to apply online:

HAF (Homeowners Assistance Fund)

This funding is for homeowners only. Rental Assistance may be available through other sources.

Click here to apply:

https://mlbo-laserfiche.millelacsband.com/Forms/HAF

Access the brochure here:

HAF Flyer 6-21-22

What is HAF?

The Homeowners Assistance Fund is federal funding that can provide full or partial payment assistance to eligible homeowners unable to make full delinquent mortgage payments and provide funds to resolve delinquent payments for utility services, excluding phone and internet, due to a continuing financial hardship associated with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Who is Eligible?

An “eligible household” is defined as a home owner and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal Member or Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe First Descendant, or a homeowner with a Mille Lacs Band member living in the home that meets the following criteria:

Homeowner is at least one installment payment in arrears on one or more of the following: utilities, such as electric, gas, home energy, and water.
Assistance sufficient to resolve the delinquency is not available from other utility assistance programs and, without HAF assistance, the homeowner is likely to lose services.
Do not need to be an Aanjibimaadizing client. MUST BE AN MLBO MEMBER, MLBO DESCENDANT, or have an MLBO member or descendant living in the household.
MLBO members can live anywhere in the nation. Descendants of MLBO members must reside in Minnesota.
Must be at or below 100% of the Federal Median Income.

What Expenses Qualify?

• Homeowner’s monthly mortgage/loan payments for the applicant’s primary residence for those eligible.

• Delinquent utility amounts for qualifying Homeowners.

• Must cover arrears. All arrears can be covered back to 1/1/2020. The provided assistance must bring the homeowner’s account current.

• Covers water, garbage, propane, electric, and sewer.

• Utilities cannot be paid in advance. Can pay current balance in addition to arrears if it is included on the bill.

• Cell phone, TV, Cable, and internet bills are not allowed.

• FUNDS WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR OR COMPANY.

Applicants Must Provide:

• Personal identification number from a state-issued ID, driver’s license, passport, ITIN, Tribal ID or other form of ID.

• Statement of current inability to resume mortgage payments due to unemployment, underemployment or other continuing hardship.

• Total amount of each type of assistance (mortgage payment, mortgage arrears, utilities, home energy costs, utility arrears) needed.

• Number of months of mortgage payments and number of months of utility cost with documentation of amounts owed.

• Gross household income of all adults and number of individuals in the household for the past 2 months, or a tax return for 2020. Each participant will be required to provide income information as well as sign an attestation stating that the income provided is the only income for that individual.

• Copy of default invoice. (overdue bill, foreclosure notice, etc.)

• W-9. (Mortgage Lender and/or Utility Provider)

• Additional information may be requested.

Questions?

Contact Tammy Moreland at 320-292-1942 or tammy.moreland@millelacsband.com . Due to call volume, there may be times where we are not able to immediately answer or return calls. Our goal is to get back to everyone within 48 hours.

PEAF (Pandemic Emergency Assistance Funds)

Link to Apply:

http://mlbo-laserfiche.millelacsband.com/Forms/PEAF

Access the brochure here:

https://aanji.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PEAF8.12.pdf

How to Apply?

Please fully read this document. If you have further questions, please call (320) 292-1942 and your call will be answered within 48 hours. Miigwech.

What is PEAF?

PEAF is non-recurring short-term benefits. It may be received no more than four times and must be for different emergency situations each time.

Who is Eligible?

– Aanjibimaadizing client (must meet 477 eligibility requirements)

– Be a family with children living in the home

– Do not have to be TANF eligible

– Expenses must be related to the pandemic or lowered family income

What Expenses Qualify?

Expenses may include but are not limited to the following:

Back to school expenses (Early Head Start to college)

$300 for every child age 10 and under
$400 for every child over the age of 10

Applicants Must Provide:

Proof of custody
School verification
Receipts must be turned in to your case manager within 30 days- failure to submit will result in suspension for 90 days.

Other Expenses such as rent, mortgage, utility assistance. Requests for specific bills/expenses will be vendor paid by check. A W-9 from the vendor will be required.

Checks take up to 10 days after all documentation is received.

Questions?

Contact a case manager with questions or to apply:

Kaari Weyaus, Case Manager- Office (320)532-7544 Cell (218)316-2437

Winona Crazythunder, Case Manager- Office (218)768-5337 Cell (320)364-3049

Renee Allen, Case Manager- Office (320)384-6240 Cell (320)591-0559

Dawn Paro, Case Manager- Office (612)746-4811 Cell (612)368-9417

Winona Spaulding, Case Manager- Office (612)746-4824 Cell (612)360-7219

Rosa Sam, Case Manager- Cell (320)364-3187

Julie Peterson, Case Manager- Office (320)532-7559 Cell (320)290-8729

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CERA/CERA-HUD) is no longer available. We have used all grant funds. We are processing anyone that was in our system as of Monday, July 18, 2022. No new applications are being accepted. Aanji was glad to assist over 350 people with this program in just the last 3 months.

Aanjibimaadizing, which means “changing lives” in our Ojibwe language, is operated as a division of the Mille Lacs Band’s Department of Administration. The goals of the program are centered on our mission statement:

To assist our fellow Anishinaabe with education, training, work experiences, cultural participation, and support services to be prosperous and change their life.

Aanjibimaadizing helps to empower participants with an acquired purpose or occupation that will contribute to the well-being of their community and family. Through this, we are able to offer services to a large percentage of our community and work closely with other organizations to help all ages embrace their culture and overcome barriers to sustainability. Our services support obtaining and retaining employment, improving or creating a position of job readiness, and addressing barriers that prevent our clients from leading their best life.

Aanjibimaadizing has offices in the Urban area, District I, District II, and District III. The offices are open by appointment. Clients can also call or email.