Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe Showcases Successful Models to Increase Native American Homeownership
Approximately 100 federal and state agencies, tribal entities, policy makers, lenders, tribal enterprises, and nonprofit organizations gathered at Sisseton Wahpeton College to discuss homeownership as a solution to the long-standing housing shortages that Indian reservations face. While homeownership in mainstream America has become a greater challenge following the mortgage crisis in 2008, it has always been perceived as an elusive dream for those that reside on Indian reservations.
During her video address in the welcoming remarks of the event, Senator Heidi Hietkamp acknowledged these challenges and commended the Coalition for its work.
Although achieving homeownership on a reservation is a complex puzzle, it is not impossible. Groups like the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition that facilitated the Sisseton convening are working to put the pieces together. The meeting focused on the successful homeownership efforts of T Yamni Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and provided models for other reservation communities to follow.
T Yamni regularly works with over 20 partner organizations to help make homeownership possible for tribal members. The organization is considered a leader in the Native homeownership field, and has help many tribal members navigate the path toward homeownership. As part of the convening, attendees toured the recently completed Long Hollow subdivision that is comprised of approximately 10 single-family homes.
Convening attendees engaged in dynamic and solution-oriented dialogue on potential ways to remove barriers to homeownership. Solutions discussed included:
- Risk Mitigation Partnership: To encourage more lending and investment from financial institutions, a pool of funds would be created by the tribe. Funds would be used to purchase a home in the event that it should go into foreclosure. This would essentially be a loan guarantee program established by the tribe, and it would also ensure that homes on tribal land stay within tribal membership.
- Land Bank Inventory: To streamline the lease process, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate is developing a plan to inventory all trust land on the reservation. This would provide them with the ability to easily identify areas or parcels that would be available as home sites, rather than going through such a long and arduous process for each individual homeowner.
Coalition to Launch Native Housing Needs Studies Project
With support from the South Dakota Governor’s Office and the South Dakota Housing Development Authority, the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition will be facilitating housing needs studies (Studies) in two small tribal communities in South Dakota.
These Studies will be designed to aide community members and decision makers in developing a meaningful sense of the housing market in their community and play an important role in effective planning for future housing efforts. The study for each community will include the following data elements: existing housing stock, housing issues, homeownership information, information on housing providers and programs, potential barriers to homeownership, demographics, economics, and recommendations.
In facilitating these housing needs studies, the Coalition will identify two tribal communities to be assessed through an application process, and select an experienced firm to carry out the assessments through a competitive proposal process. Work to conduct these Studies will start by October 1, 2015, and Studies will be completed by March 31, 2016.
More Information for Tribal Communities
Under the program guidelines, eligible tribal communities must have a population of 10,000 or less. The size of the community/reservation will determine whether one specific community or the broader reservation will be assessed. If selected, the tribal community must designate at least one staff member to dedicate sufficient time and attention to the assessment.
Each selected community will be required to cover 50% of the cost of each study, up to $10,000. There are no restrictions on the source of funds; however, funds must be provided in cash by October 1, 2015.
To apply, interested communities should submit completed applications according to the guidelines stated in the application package by September 1, 2015.
More Information for Tribal Communities
Under the program guidelines, eligible tribal communities must have a population of 10,000 or less. The size of the community/reservation will determine whether one specific community or the broader reservation will be assessed. If selected, the tribal community must designate at least one staff member to dedicate sufficient time and attention to the assessment.
Each selected community will be required to cover 50% of the cost of each study, up to $10,000. There are no restrictions on the source of funds; however, funds must be provided in cash by October 1, 2015.
To apply, interested communities should submit completed applications according to the guidelines stated in the application package by September 1, 2015.
Questions
The Coalition will be accepting questions regarding the application for assessment and the Request for Proposal from August 1 – 15, 2015. Questions will be submitted and answered through an open and transparent platform on our website.
Please submit questions through the Comments platform below, and be sure to state whether your question is for the application or the Request for Proposal. All questions will be fielded and answered through the Comments platform within 48 hours.
Coalition Hosts Meetings with Contractors to Foster Increased Building
On March 10 and June 3, 2015 the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition met with contractors on the Pine Ridge Reservation to explore how to support contractors’ efforts to build more homes. Suggested tools and strategies from these meetings included:
- providing sample construction contracts and agreements
- developing model building codes
- looking into conducting an inspector certification training
- mapping out the construction process for potential homebuyers
At the June 3 meeting, Juel Burnette of 1st Tribal Lending also shared information on HUD/ONAP contractor “validation” requirements.
Twenty-five Practitioners Become Certified as Homebuyer Education Instructors
On May 27 – 29, 2015, twenty-five homeownership practitioners attended a three-day homebuyer education instructor certification training in Pierre, South Dakota. The in-depth training focused on homebuyer education for Native communities. Through the session, participants became certified to teach Pathways Home homebuyer education classes in their communities.
The training was sponsored by the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition, in partnership with GROW South Dakota and its RCDI Initiative. Additional support was provided by 1st Tribal Lending, Wells Fargo, and Dacotah Bank. The training was facilitated by the National American Indian Housing Council in partnership with Seven Sisters Community Development Group.
Coalition Facilitates Workshop at SD Indian Business Conference in Deadwood
On May 19, 2015, the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition facilitated a workshop at the SD Indian Business Conference on the “Intersections between Homeownership Development and Entrepreneurship.” Elsie Meeks moderated the discussion, and Sharice Davids of Thunder Valley, Terry Lee of the FDIC, Kadem Fisher of Lakota Funds, and George Twiss of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing participated the conversation. Coalition representatives discussed the need for workforce housing, the work-home design concept, and what tribal leaders can do to promote homeownership.
Thirty Coalition Members Certified as Financial Education Instructors
On March 26 – 28, 2015, thirty South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition members from across the state participated in a three three-day intensive train-the-trainer session in Pierre focusing on financial education for Native communities. Through the session, participants became certified to teach Building Native Communities financial education classes in their communities. Participants represented nonprofit organizations, tribal housing entities, tribal departments, and community development financial institutions. The training was sponsored by the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition, in partnership with GROW South Dakota and its RCDI Initiative. The training was facilitated by First Nations Oweesta Corporation in partnership with Seven Sisters Community Development Group.
Coalition Representatives Address First Annual Oglala Lakota Housing Summit
On December 17, 2014, representatives of the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition attended the First Annual Housing Summit in Rapid City, discussing why the Coalition was created, the mission and vision, benefits of working with the Coalition, accomplishments, and future plans.
Coalition Sponsors “Residential Construction Roundtable”
The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition sponsored a residential construction roundtable in Rapid City to look at how the Coalition can support contractors’ efforts to build more homes for Native homebuyers. Over 20 participants attended the productive session, sharing challenges and strategies.
Coalition attends SDHDA Annual Housing Conference in Pierre
The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition hosted a pre-conference session and quarterly gathering on Monday, October 27, prior to the South Dakota Housing Development Agency conference. The session provided an opportunity for Coalition members to network, share accomplishments, review Coalition progress and milestones, and conduct in-person committee meetings.
This year, for the first time, the Housing Conference offered a ‘Native Homeownership Track,” which included five conference workshops developed by the Coalition. Workshops focused on the following topics:
- Making Native Homeownership Affordable: Subsidies, Loan Products, and other Funding Sources
- Beyond the Myths: Leasehold Mortgages and Working on Tribal Trust Land
- Preparing Families for Homeownership: A Look at Effective Native Homeownership Education and Counseling Models
- Sustainable Design and Construction Methods to Ensure Long-term Affordability
- Developing Successful Partnerships with Native Organizations
Coalition Conducts Homeownership Tour & Gathering on Pine Ridge
The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition conducted a tour of Pine Ridge focused on the Sustainable Homeownership Opportunity Project (SHOP) Collaborative working to facilitate the homeownership process on Pine Ridge, as well as the work of individual SHOP partners. Over 55 Coalition members attended the event, starting the day at the Lakota Prairie Ranch in Kyle. The Coalition first traveled to Pine Ridge to learn about the work of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing and the Oglala Sioux (Lakota) Housing Authority, visiting the Fraggle Rock development and the new Housing Authority headquarters. Coalition members then traveled to Sharps Corner in the Porcupine District to visit Thunder Valley CDC, and learn about their sustainable homeownership efforts. From there, the group returned to Kyle, where Coalition members ate lunch and then met with representatives of the BIA, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Credit and Finance Office, and the Tech Team to discuss tribal land issues. The tour concluded with a visit to the Lakota Trade Center, where members met with representatives of the Lakota Federal Credit Union and the Lakota Funds. Coalition members also had the opportunity to meet with two successful homeowners, who had been assisted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing and Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial. In addition to the tour/quarterly gathering, the Coalition also addressed Tribally Designated Housing Entity leadership in Rapid City on September 22.