{"id":407925,"date":"2024-04-25T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=407925"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"MOU-signed-to-provide-housing-loans-for-low-and-very-low-income-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/MOU-signed-to-provide-housing-loans-for-low-and-very-low-income-residents\/","title":{"rendered":"MOU signed to provide housing loans for low and very low-income residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Northern Marianas Housing Corp. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service signed yesterday an amended Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the provision of housing for low and very low-income residents of the CNMI.<\/p>\n

The MOU if for USDA Rural Housing Service\u2019s single-family housing loan programs. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) witnessed the signing of the MOU in the Office of the Governor\u2019s conference room.<\/p>\n

The signatories to the MOU are NMHC board chair Merced \u201cMarcie\u201d M. Tomokane, NMHC corporate director Jesse Palacios, and USDA Rural Housing Service administrator Joaquin J. Altoro.<\/p>\n

The MOU replaces any prior MOUs executed by RHS and NMHC as far back as March 26, 1979. The purpose is to establish and define set roles for RHS and NMHC with respect to the making, guaranteeing, and servicing of RHS single-family housing loans and grants to owners and lessees of CNMI lands.<\/p>\n

Under the MOU, RHS is prepared to make such loans and grants, while NMHC seeks to facilitate and support the provision of USDA housing assistance programs in the CNMI.<\/p>\n

NMHC corporate director Palacios said with the amended MOU in place, they\u2019re ready to \u201crock and roll with this program again\u201d as it is something that the CNMI needs.<\/p>\n

Palacios said the last two such loans they had were back in 2008 and that from that point on, it was just mostly U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs.<\/p>\n

Palacios said Super Typhoon Yutu devastated a lot of homes in the CNMI and NMHC received almost $244 million to aid in the recovery. With that amount they set aside about $137 million for housing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we thought that was a lot of money, but we\u2019re finding out now that it\u2019s not a whole lot,\u201d Palacios said.<\/p>\n

The corporate director said they still have close to 300 on their wait list.<\/p>\n

He said for the home program, they also have almost 50 on their wait list.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo as you can see from these numbers, there is a demand for affordable housing unit in the CNMI and we\u2019re just happy to finally have this MOU in place. We can have additional funding to help our community,\u201d Palacios said.<\/p>\n

USDA Rural Development Hawaii\/Western Pacific State director Chris Kanazawa said they all share the same frustrations about how long the program is taking.<\/p>\n

Kanazawa said he left USDA in 2016 and returned in March 2022.<\/p>\n

He said he has had many discussions with delegate Sablan about the program so through the support of their administrator Altoro, they were able to resurrect the MOU to at least start the program again.<\/p>\n

Kanazawa said his intention is if this is successful, they can always revisit and expand it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I think right now the important thing is we have this infrastructure in place to allow us to at least go forward,\u201d Kanazawa said.<\/p>\n

Gov. Palacios thanked Kanazawa, Altoro, and USDA Rural Development area director Joseph M. Diego for their persistence getting this program.<\/p>\n

Palacios said also he really thanks delegate Sablan for his advocacy to put this on the radar and put a push.<\/p>\n

NMHC board chair Tomokane said she believes the program was suspended before because there were a lot of accounts that were not serviced properly.<\/p>\n

Tomokane said there were a lot of back-and-forth negotiations as to what can NMHC do to keep those families in their homes because those are the only homes they have.<\/p>\n

She said thanks to USDA, the negotiation went through with an amicable negotiation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a short, brief history. But now I\u2019m so happy that you guys are back,\u201d Tomokane said.<\/p>\n

She apologized for holding back the MOU because she had some questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can say I\u2019m greedy. Okay. When you work in a financial company, you need to get the most of your investment right?\u201d Tomokane said.<\/p>\n

She said when the MOU came before the board, she did ask the staff why it\u2019s only three loans and that they should go back and ask for more.<\/p>\n

Tomokane thanked Altoro and Kanazawa for giving them additional two for a total of five loans, which is a good start.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we really appreciate so that we can put those families that have been waiting for this program. Give them and their loved ones a home and maybe we can spread get some more as we progress,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Tomokane said it was originally three loans and that was the reason there was a little bit delay until they get confirmation that USDA is going to increase it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were hoping for more but you know we take five,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Tomokane assured USDA that NMHC staff and management will make sure that this program will be monitored and implemented as agreed on the MOU.<\/p>\n

She said with collaborative efforts between NMHC and USDA Rural Housing Service, she believes this program will move.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll make sure, we, the board, monitor how the staff are progressing and we\u2019ll make sure that they will comply with everything and will not have a repeat,\u201d the NMHC board chairperson said.<\/p>\n

Tomokane said NMHC has three staff on board that are already certified to manage this program.<\/p>\n

Kanazawa said first, Tomokane is not greedy, but is only passionate and that he appreciates that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s important that you were comfortable with. So no apologies, no excuses. You did the right thing,\u201d Kanazawa said.<\/p>\n

Kanazawa said if they are finding that the five loans have been made, and everything is performing he is more than happy to go back to his boss and see whether they can expand that.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are key to the success. So I appreciate your commitment also,\u201d Kanazawa told Tomokane.<\/p>\n

Delegate Sablan said NMHC has matured more that it was in the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to restart the confidence because you also have bosses you report to,\u201d said Sablan as he thanked the USDA officials for coming to Saipan and also to NMHC officials and staff for the hard work.<\/p>\n

Before the signing of the MOU, Altoro stated that he is really proud of the work they\u2019re doing at USDA Rural Housing Service to help realize President Joseph Biden\u2019s commitment to ensure that all Americans have an affordable place they can call home, leaving no community behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday we are signing a Memorandum of Understanding that recommits us to partnering with the Commonwealth so that residents are able to buy, build, and repair homes through USDA\u2019s single family home loan programs,\u201d Altoro said.<\/p>\n

He said USDA is renewing its partnership with the NMHC to ensure people living in the CNMI have access to safe and affordable places to live.<\/p>\n

Altoro said as a part of the MOU, the NMHC will work toward becoming a certified loan packager for the Rural Housing Service.<\/p>\n

He said through this partnership, USDA Rural Development and NMHC will try to accomplish the following:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Reach more people in the Commonwealth who may be eligible for the USDA home loans.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Provide technical assistance to potential applicants.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Help potential applicants improve their ability to qualify for a home.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ensure applications are complete with supporting documents prior to submission.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo together, both organizations will work to ensure people have the resources and support needed to submit successful applications,\u201d Altoro said.<\/p>\n

He said this MOU is the latest in a series of partnership agreements between the organizations, which began in 1979.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so we are proud of what we\u2019re accomplishing today\u2014with the acknowledgement there\u2019s still more to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Altoro noted that the that last part is more important, that there\u2019s still more to do.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service administrator Joaquin J. Altoro signs an amended Memorandum of Understanding between USDA and the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. to facilitate the provision of housing for low and very low-income residents of the CNMI. Also in this file photo, from right, are NMHC corporate director Jesse Palacios, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP), NMHC board chair Merced \u201cMarcie\u201d M. Tomokane, and Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.\u00a0<\/p>\n

-FERDIE DE LA TORRE
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