SDNHOC2019

Sharon Vogel, Chairwoman

Sharon Vogel (third from left) was seated on the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition’s inaugural Board of Directors in June 2022. She serves as the Chairwoman and is the Executive Director of Cheyenne River Housing Authority.

A New Era of Indian Housing

The Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), which was enacted by Congress in 1996, transformed housing in Indian Country by giving tribes greater control over their allocations of federal dollars. It was shortly after this game-changing legislation that Sharon Vogel, with encouragement from her mentor, returned home to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation to enter into the homeownership field. Taking on a totally new initiative that had no established road maps, Sharon helped launch the Cheyenne River Housing Authority’s One Stop Mortgage Center. The center was part of a national strategy to build local capacity and promote homeownership in Native American communities.

“We realized it wasn’t going to be a cookie cutter program,” says Sharon, reflecting on the novelty of mortgages on the Reservation over 20 years ago. “That first year we closed maybe three loans, and each of them was a process. You had never done it before, and they had never done it before.”

Those were some of the first Housing and Urban Development Section 184 (HUD 184) mortgages deployed on Cheyenne River, but there were more “firsts” to come. Realizing they needed capital from a community-based mortgage lender, Sharon was an integral part of creating Community 1st Credit Union in 2007 under the sponsorship of the Cheyenne River Housing Authority. Although it has become part of Black Hills Federal Credit Union, the facility continues to provide essential banking services to Cheyenne River residents.

Setting the Foundation with Education

Just having more ready access to mortgage capital ushered in a new era of progress, however, Cheyenne River Housing Authority’s 12-week homebuyer education program has also brought about transformational change. Although the class itself has changed and grown over the years, Sharon believes it is still the best thing they can do.

She explains, “The classes have been great for introducing the mortgage loan process and they also incorporate consumer education. It has been really impactful and has practical applications to all aspects of life. The feedback is always positive, and that’s how we know we’re on the right path.”

Sharon says the participants that have completed the class and gone through the mortgage process have been some of the best advertisers of homeownership. Cheyenne River’s local Native community development financial institution (CDFI), Four Bands Community Fund, has also been a major contributor to increasing the number of homeowners on the Reservation. Potential homebuyers now have multiple lender options for financing their new home.

“Mortgage lending is now really understood [in the community],” says Sharon.

Another major milestone achieved under Sharon’s leadership has been the successful financing of seven housing development projects for Badger Park, a 160-acre development that will eventually house up to 1,500 people. With 38 planned homeownership lots, the development will also feature apartments, rentals, elderly housing, and outdoor recreational areas.

“One of our biggest accomplishments is to be able to provide the mortgage borrower with a tribal lot assignment that has fully-built infrastructure,” says Sharon. This approach eliminates prohibitive infrastructure costs that many families would have otherwise faced building in a rural area.

Implementing Collective Action Strategies

Sharon has been involved with the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition from the start and was immediately drawn to the Policy Committee, which she has co-chaired for the past six years. She saw that many of the barriers to homeownership would require coordinated advocacy as part of the solutions, so that is where she has applied much of her energy.

“It is so satisfying to see more things happening, especially since the Coalition started. We’ve seen homeownership rates increasing on all of the reservations,” delights Sharon.

The Coalition’s Policy Committee has raised awareness of Native American homeownership by engaging policy makers and helped spread replicable models throughout the country by leveraging partnerships. They have also celebrated several policy victories, especially with the Veterans Affairs Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program and the USDA 502 Direct Loan program. Although these are some big wins, Sharon points out that the Coalition’s advocacy work really took hold as more partners joined in the earlier years. It was a collective effort that effected change.

She adds, “You can’t underestimate the value of small change. I think about some of the small steps leading up to where we were able influence the development of important work. There is so much work that has been impactful, yet there is so much more work that needs to be done. We are very fortunate to have multiple successes in multiple arenas, and that is the result of very hard work.”

A House is More Than a Home

Outside of work, Sharon enjoys spending time with her kids and grandkids. A big part of her enjoyment is being supportive and encouraging them in their activities. She also appreciates being able to go home and unwind with leisurely projects.

“Your home is your sanctuary and your retreat,” she comments.

Centered on that belief, it is no coincidence that Sharon continuously works to create a similar reality for so many other Native families in her community, across the state, and throughout the nation.

“You see what families can do when they are stabilized. It changes the family in a good way. It changes their children and grandchildren, and it changes the whole community. It’s important for people to know they have a safe place,” affirms Sharon.

The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition (SDNHOC) is a diverse group of over 75 tribal, state, federal, nonprofit, and private sector stakeholders working to identify barriers, share innovative solutions, and leverage resources to create a clear path to homeownership for Native people in South Dakota. We are governed by a representative Board of Directors, and Lakota Funds, a Native community development financial institution, serves as our fiscal agent. After working as an informal coalition for nearly ten years, we are now working towards becoming an independent, 501(c)3 organization. We are currently developing statewide homeownership and workforce development programs and envision a staff of seven employees by early 2023.

To contribute to the organization’s sustainability, we are also creating a new Housing Development Subsidiary (HDS) which will serve as the development arm of the SDNHOC. The HDS will primarily focus on providing housing development services to Coalition member organizations who wish to increase or improve housing opportunities for Native families in South Dakota. Examples of services might include serving as the developer for housing construction projects, conducting housing needs assessments and market studies, obtaining preliminary architectural and engineer reports, conducting site analysis, obtaining construction financing, developing infrastructure, preparing design and construction documents, or providing property management services.

We are seeking to hire a Housing Development Subsidiary Executive Director who will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of the new subsidiary.

Primary responsibilities:

• Help to design and manage a new entity that provides housing development services to potential clients;
• Create and maintain a high-quality development team comprised of staff members, independent contractors, and volunteers;
• Conduct contract and project management;
• Oversee housing development projects to ensure successful outcomes and capacity building opportunities for clients and impacted communities;
• Maintain relationships with community, government, and private sector stakeholders;
• Work closely with the SDNHOC Board of Directors to set priorities and strategic directions;
• Manage organizational activities to ensure the long-term financial sustainability for both HDS and SDNHOC;
• Hire and manage staff and consultants;
• Oversee the development and implementation of HDS policies and procedures;
• Take the lead on HDS resource development and fundraising efforts; and
• Ensure compliance with all funding sources.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to:

Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director
Lakota Funds
PO Box 340
Kyle, SD  57752

email: tbrunsch@lakotafunds.org

South Dakota Housing presented its “Friend of Housing” Award to Tawney Brunsch at the annual statewide housing conference. South Dakota Housing presents the award annually to an individual who has made a commitment to affordable housing in South Dakota through their contributions, achievements and vision.

As a community leader, Brunsch serves as the Executive Director of Lakota Funds, the first Native Community Development Financial Institution, serving the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations with access to savings accounts, consumer loans and mortgage loans. She also led Lakota Funds to be the first Native financial institution to become a USDA FSA guaranteed lender. Under her leadership, as of December 2020, Lakota Funds had loaned more than $16.3 million through 1,225 loans, aiding 823 businesses and creating over 2,000 jobs.

On the state level, Brunsch is a vital member of the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition since its creation in 2013, a group dedicated to increasing homeownership opportunities for Native families to build strong and healthy communities. She currently serves as the fiscal agent, on the Executive/Steering Committee, leads the Physical Issues Committee, and is active on the Policy and Veteran’s Committees.

At the national level, Brunsch was a founding board member for the Native CDFI Network, a national group that works to strengthen Native CDFIs. She is the Chair of the Credit Committee for the Council for Native American Farmers and Ranchers and just completed her term on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines’ Advisory Council. And this year, she ascends to chair the Consumer Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

When Tawney is not working tirelessly for her native community, she dedicates her spare time to her passions that include her grandbabies, children, and her beloved Green Bay Packers.

“Every community needs a champion and the Native community is lucky to be the recipient of Tawney’s work” said executive director Lorraine Polak. “Tawney uses her passion to lead the way for the betterment of her community.”

The Friend of Housing Award was started 23 years ago to recognize individuals and/or companies who are instrumental in providing affordable housing in South Dakota. Annually, South Dakota Housing accepts nominations for the award and announces the recipient at their annual housing conference.

We are seeking qualified candidates for five positions!

After working as an informal coalition for nearly ten years, we are now working towards becoming an independent, 501(c)3 stand-alone organization. We are currently developing statewide homeownership and workforce development programs, and envision a staff of seven employees by early 2023. We are seeking experienced applicants for five new positions:

1. Executive Director
2. Operations Manager
3. Homeownership Program Manager
4. Workforce Development Program Manager
5. Workforce Development Training Coordinator

Initially, these positions will be Lakota Funds staff positions. Once the new nonprofit entity is created, the positions will transition to be employees of the new organization.

Salary and Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Benefits will be provided, including health care, dental care, vision, and retirement.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to:

Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director
Lakota Funds
P.O. Box 340
Kyle, SD 57752

Email: tbrunsch@lakotafunds.org

Lakota Funds recognizes Native preference in hiring.

With June as National Homeownership Month as a fitting backdrop, the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition introduced our initial Board of Directors to our membership base and a myriad of partner organizations who were in attendance at our Annual Tour & Convening in Flandreau, South Dakota. The Board of Directors is comprised of:

• Chairwoman: Sharon Vogel, Executive Director of Cheyenne River Housing Authority
• Vice Chairman: Eric Shepherd, Executive Director of Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority
• Secretary: Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director of Lakota Funds
• Treasurer: Lori Moen, Chief Operating Officer of GROW South Dakota
• Members: Juel Burnette III, Branch Manager of First Tribal Lending; Tatewin Means, Executive Director of Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation; Lorraine Polak, Executive Director of South Dakota Housing Development Authority; Colleen Steele, Executive Director of Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial; Lakota Vogel, Executive Director of Four Bands Community Fund

“Seating the Board is a major milestone in formalizing our operations and strengthening our programming. We have a great group of dedicated, diverse, and knowledgeable professionals, many of whom have been supporting the Coalition since its inception,” says Chairwoman Sharon Vogel.

The Coalition’s Annual Tour & Convening was a three-day event comprised of a planning day, a site visit, committee meetings, and a lender symposium. The event was attended by 72 individuals representing tribes, regional and national nonprofit organizations, state and federal legislators, lenders, and various federal agencies. In addition to South Dakota, attendees traveled from Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming, to examine successful models and engage in discussions surrounding Native American homeownership.

“The level of participation we had from across the country demonstrates the strong support we have, not only from our tribal communities, but also from a wide range of partner organizations and government agencies that are aligning their efforts in order to create more homeownership opportunities for Native Americans,” says Sharon Vogel.

Despite economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for homeownership in South Dakota’s Native American communities has continued to grow. Collectively, the members of the Coalition deployed 85 home-related loans totaling $6.4 million in 2021, representing more than a 57% increase in number of loans and 20% increase in value of loans from 2020. More than half of the 2021 borrowers were first-time homebuyers, and 89% of the loans were deployed on or near Indian reservations. To make homeownership possible for the low-income communities they serve, members of the Coalition delivered 46 homeownership trainings along with 237 hours of customized assistance to borrowers and connected homebuyers to an average of $5,365 in subsidies.

“The impact numbers deliver a clear message. Despite long-standing, systemic barriers, our membership base is utilizing effective strategies to create homeownership opportunities for Native American families. People throughout the nation are taking note and adapting these models in their communities,” states Sharon Vogel.

Please join us in welcoming Rita Weatherbee.

We are excited to introduce you to Rita Weatherbee, our new Project Coordinator. Rita comes to the Coalition with 27 years of experience working for the State of South Dakota in various capacities, most recently for the Department of Tourism. Although Rita was semi-retired, her passion for homeownership led her to apply for the Project Coordinator position. She believes that homeownership should be possible for everyone. In her role as Project Coordinator, she will be working closely with Elias Mendoza, Project Director, as the Coalition transitions to an independent nonprofit organization. In addition, she will be providing administrative support to our working committees, tracking data, and managing and reporting on grants.

The Coalition is undertaking a strategic planning process to examine our history, analyze successes and challenges, and formulate strategic directions and goals for the future.

Specifically, we’re seeking a consultant to provide the following services:

1. Information gathering in preparation for strategic planning session (which may include key stakeholder/Board interviews and/or stakeholder/Board survey);
2. Agenda development in collaboration with Board subcommittee;
3. Preparation of handouts and support materials;
4. Facilitation of 2-day in-person session tentatively set for early September 2022; and
5. Preparation of follow-up materials from the session, including a three-year strategic plan and one-year work plan.

We encourage interested parties to read the full RFP for an overview of this project and the Coalition’s history, more details on what proposals should include, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements.

Proposals should be sent no later than April 15, 2022 to:

Tawney Brunsch
Executive Director, Lakota Funds
Fiscal Agent, South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition
P.O. Box 340
Kyle, South Dakota 57752
605-455-2500
tbrunsch@lakotafunds.org

Questions about this RFP should be directed to Ms. Brunsch.

After working as an informal coalition for the past seven years, we are now working towards becoming an independent, stand-alone organization. We have created a new staff position, the Project Coordinator, to support and manage this transition.

This role is for you if you…

• Are committed to increasing homeownership opportunities for Native families in SD;
• Would like to support our Coalition’s transition from an informal coalition to an independent, stand-alone organization;
• Are a self-starter, who thrives working on your own;
• Are a bridge-builder, who can support connections between member organizations;
• Are comfortable working remotely;
• Have strong writing and communication skills;
• Have experience in affordable homeownership or community development; and
• Have a track record of moving ideas into action.

Primary responsibilities:

• Support the Project Director with the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Social and Economic Development grant project.
• Provide administrative support for the Coalition’s organizational development process including incorporation, recruitment of Board members, and adoption of Bylaws.
• Schedule meetings and record minutes for the Coalition’s steering committee and eventually the Board of Directors.
• Enter data into Salesforce database to track Coalition activities, outputs and outcomes.
• Provide administrative support to the Coalition’s working committees, as directed.
• Coordinate events, workshops and trainings.
• Provide administrative support for grants management and annual ANA reporting requirements.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume by February 25, 2022 to:

Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director
Lakota Funds
P.O. Box 340
Kyle, SD 57752

Email: tbrunsch@lakotafunds.org

The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition is pleased to announce that we have received a grant award from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Native Americans (ANA) that will provide over a million dollars in funding aimed at establishing an independent statewide nonprofit organization. The ANA grant will provide $1.2 million of the total $1.5 million project budget over a three-year period.

“We are in gratitude as we acknowledge this major support from the Administration for Native Americans. This is a very exciting advancement in the Coalition’s growth and development process,” says Elias Mendoza, Program Director of the Coalition.

Mendoza will be working closely with the Coalition’s Executive Committee to build the organizational infrastructure needed to transition the group from an informal coalition to a sustainable Native-led nonprofit organization. Since our inception eight years ago, we have been operating largely with consultant and volunteer support, and Lakota Funds, a community loan fund based on the Pine Ridge Reservation, has been serving as our fiscal agent. Earlier this year, Mendoza was hired as the Coalition’s first full-time staff member, a major step in our organizational development process.

“The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition is a very active and dynamic group of leaders in the Native homeownership field, and it has been growing at a rapid pace for several years. This funding support will enable the Coalition to continue following that trajectory of progress,” says Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director of Lakota Funds and also Executive Committee Member of the Coalition.

The Coalition was one of 75 organizations that received a total of $19.9 million in funding from ANA’s 2021 grant cycle.

Welcome Elias!

Elias Mendoza joins the Coalition as Program Director. 

The Coalition is pleased to announce we have hired Elias Mendoza (Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe) as our Program Director. This is a major step in our journey to become an independent nonprofit organization. As the Coalition’s first full-time staff person, Elias will guide the organizational development process and interface with our five working committees. 

“I am thrilled to be a part of the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition and look forward to working with other passionate people across the state to create a clear path to homeownership for our Native families,” says Elias.

Elias became familiar with the Coalition by serving as a partner site for our Construction Internship Program in 2019. At the time, he was the Program Director for Sisseton-Wahpeton’s 477/Employment Training Service Center, a unique program that co-mingles the Tribe’s adult education, workforce development, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) programs to leverage resources and maximize effectiveness. By working together with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Housing Authority, Elias and his team brought five interns through the Construction Internship Program with a 100% completion rate. 

When he saw the announcement for our Program Director position a few months ago, he thought, “This is something I know I can put all of my passion into. This is something I would love to see grow.” 

Elias is looking forward to leveraging his skills and experience to build bridges between tribal, state, and federal agencies in his new role. He is also passionate about creating pathways to homeownership for Native people. Elias brings over 10 years of experience in executive support, staff training and development, and project planning to the Coalition.

Although born in Los Angeles, California, he spent much of his early childhood on and around the Lake Traverse Reservation. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences from North Dakota State University and working in several metropolitan areas across the country, in 2012, Elias finally moved back home to Sisseton where he currently resides.