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.
Coalition Attends Sisseton-Wahpeton T Yamni Homeownership Fair
The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition arranged a homeownership tour of Sisseton Wahpeton in conjunction with the T Yamni Homeownership Fair. Approximately 35 Coalition members attended the event, which highlighted homeownership development efforts. The day also included a quarterly Coalition gathering, as well as a presentation before the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association.
Coalition Representatives Meet with Crow Creek Tribal Council
Representatives of the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition addressed the Crow Creek Tribal Council and Tribally Designated Housing Entity leadership to discuss the work of the Coalition in promoting Native homeownership in South Dakota, and how the Council can support homeownership for tribal members.
South Dakota Tribes Building Homeownership Coalition
A new South Dakota statewide coalition will support and promote homeownership in Native communities. Six of the state’s nine Indian reservations, including six representatives of housing authorities, gathered at a recent session to provide critical input. Also in attendance were the South Dakota USDA Rural Development, South Dakota Housing Development Authority, and the Great Plains Native Asset Building Coalition.
South Dakota Statewide Native Homeownership Coalition on the Horizon
South Dakota USDA Rural Development, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA), and the Great Plains Native Asset Building Coalition convened a vital meeting of stakeholders recently to gain input on the creation of a statewide coalition to support and promote homeownership in South Dakota Native communities.