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Agency awards $60 million in tribal housing grants

By WTOP Staff

MARK THIESSEN
Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The federal government has awarded nearly $60 million in grants to more than 90 tribal communities across the nation, including 15 in Alaska, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro announced Monday in Anchorage.

“These grants are intended to improve housing conditions and stimulate community development, including construction projects which will generate local jobs here in Anchorage and neighboring communities,” he said.

The projects funded include:

— $600,000 to the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indian Tribe in Maine to build a tribal fitness center to address diabetes, obesity and other health issues.

— $1.1 million to the Blackfeet Housing Authority of Montana to renovate 24 low-rent housing units in Browning and Heart Butte.

— $600,000 to the Seneca Nation Indian Tribe of New York to replace a failing wastewater treatment plant.

— 826,926 to the Pueblo of Zuni Housing Authority of New Mexico to rehabilitate 18 housing units. The authority has 190 people on a wait list for help.

— $800,000 for a tribal heritage center for the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

— $605,000 for the Fort McDermitt Travel Enterprise of Nevada to a build diesel fueling area at a travel plaza along Highway 95, creating five new jobs and revenue from fuel sales and increased traffic at a convenience store.

— $600,000 for the Cook Inlet Tribal Council to help pay for a 23-unit senior housing complex in East Anchorage.

Other Indian Community Development Block Grant Program funds will for the first time be used to address mold in lower-income housing.

Among the nine tribes receiving such funds is the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona, which will use nearly $400,000 to remove mold from 10 homes in its village at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Mold is a problem because of overcrowding and frequent flooding.

“These grants are critical to promote better housing and economic development, and they also support self-determination,” Castro said. “Our tribal partners, not Washington, decide which activities and projects meet their needs and though we’re all challenged to stretch our housing dollars, these funds represent a critically needed investment in the tribal communities that need it most.”

___

Online:

List of grant awards: http://is.gd/BVkAGH

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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