About Us

About Us

Cherokee Indian Housing Division

For years, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI) operated two separate housing departments, the first being the Qualla Housing Authority (QHA), established in 1962. QHA was created to serve as a Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) to administer federal funds for low-income housing activities. In 2005, the second housing department, Housing and Community Development (HCD) was established. Unlike QHA, HCD operated exclusively on tribal funds, as opposed to federal funds.

Also, unlike QHA, which as a TDHE, day-to-day operations were overseen by an Executive Director who reported to a Board of Commissioners (BOC), HCD was overseen by the Secretary of Housing who reported directly to the Principal Chief.

After a slew of attempts to bring the two housing departments together under one roof, it finally happened on August 20, 2020 (Cherokee Code Ord. No. 158), effectively dissolving the TDHE, Qualla Housing Authority became Qualla Housing Services (QHS), and Housing & Community Development became Tribal Housing Services (THS), both departments of the new Cherokee Indian Housing Division.

The dissolving of the TDHE meant the dissolving of the BOC, which is now known as the Housing Committee and serves as an advisory council with no authority over day-to-day operations. Chapter 44 – HOUSING | Code of Ordinances | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Tribes and Tribal Nations | Municode Library

What We do

Empowering Housing Solutions

The collective primary goal of all EBCI housing providers is to be able to help our tribal members from all demographics regardless of their financial status. Loosely, we can break it down into tiers that may look something like this:
    1. Homelessness (QHS THS Temporary Housing)
        • To address homelessness, CIHD opens applications when a unit becomes available.
      2. Domestic Violence (PHHS Walkingstick Shelter for Women Children)
      3. Mental Health & Substance Abuse Disorders (Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority [CIHA] Women Children’s Home)
      4. Mental Health & Substance Abuse Disorders (Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority [CIHA] Men Children’s Home)
      5. Transitional Housing (THS Temporary Housing)
          • In certain circumstances, CIHD Analenisgi collaborate to help provide assistance not being met otherwise.
1. Disabled & Handicap (Cherokee Boy’s Club HIP)
2. Affordable Senior Citizen Housing (QHS Tsali Manor)
3. Affordable Housing (QHS Rental & Homeownership)
4. Moderate Income Housing (THS Market Rate Rental & Homeownership Assistance)
5. Upper-Income
Our work

Building Communities
Preserving Traditions

$493,164

Appr. Average Annual Rental Subsidy

98+

Average Families Housed/Assisted Annually

10+

$6,330,102.98

Approximate Annual Homeownership Assistance Provided

New Homeowners Assisted

how it works

Discover What We Do

Working with different sources of funding often means working with several guideline structures and restrictions. For example, for most services provided by QHS, one must qualify as “low-income” and be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe. With that in mind, while we are working to create a more uniform application process housing-wide, the current application process differs depending on the service one requires.

“For Qualla Housing Services, online applications can begin here

or picked up at the front desk of the Main Office located at 687 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719. You may also scan the following code with your smart phone:”

For Tribal Housing Services and Infrastructure, applications can be picked up at the front desk of the Main Office located at 687 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719.

Read More
GET INVOLVED

how it works

Discover What We Do

Working with different sources of funding often means working with several guideline structures and restrictions. For example, for most services provided by QHS, one must qualify as “low-income” and be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe. With that in mind, while we are working to create a more uniform application process housing-wide, the current application process differs depending on the service one requires.

“For Qualla Housing Services, applications can be printed here, or picked up at the front desk of the Main Office located at 687 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719.”

“For Tribal Housing Services, applications for financial lending, mortgage assistance, down-payment assistance, etc., can be picked up at the front desk of the Main Office located at 687 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719. To apply for Market Rate long-term rentals, please visit https://hcdpropertymanagement.managebuilding.com/Resident/rental-application/new/apply

For the Infrastructure department’s services, applications can be picked up at the front desk of the Main Office located at 687 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719.
24/7 available for you

Lets Get In Touch With Us

(828) 359-6320
Scroll to Top