Native Veterans

About


The Native Veterans Homeownership Committee works to increase access to homeownership resources for Native American veterans by focusing on matters addressing housing stock and land issues, homebuyer education, and subsidies.

3

veterans homeownership assessments

1

new veterans homeownership model

2025

MILESTONES

> Finalize the statewide housing needs assessment for Native Veterans.
> Advocate for VA Native American Direct Loan (NADL) reforms.
> Develop an outreach strategy/toolkit to support TVSOs on providing housing services to veterans.
> Develop statewide Native Veterans Homebuyer and Practitioner Guides.
> Promote opportunities for Native veterans to participate in the Coalition’s workforce development program, including the Construction Internship Program.
> Develop specialized homeownership outreach strategy to reach young veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities.

2025

MILESTONES

> Finalize the statewide housing needs assessment for Native Veterans
> Advocate for VA Native American Direct Loan (NADL) reforms
> Develop an outreach strategy/toolkit to support TVSOs on providing housing services to veterans.
> Develop statewide Native Veterans Homebuyer and Practitioner Guides.
> Promote opportunities for Native veterans to participate in the coalition's workforce development program, including the construction internship program.
> Develop specialized homeownership outreach strategy to reach young veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities.

"Knowing that Native American veterans experience unique circumstances, we are working to overcome the myriad of complex barriers this group faces in achieving homeownership."

Events


2025
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Resources


Coalition Veterans Homeownership Studies


The Veterans Housing Needs and Homeownership Study was developed to gather data that would help tribal housing authorities, Tribal Veterans Service Officers, and other service providers better understand the circumstances, challenges, and needs of veterans in each of the participating communities.

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Cheyenne River Veterans Homeownership Study


This report contains the key findings of the study as they relate to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The report summarizes key themes and provides associated recommendations.

Download Report

Pine Ridge Veterans Homeownership Study


This report contains the key findings of the study as they relate to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The report summarizes key themes and provides associated recommendations.

Download Report

Sisseton Veterans Homeownership Study


This report contains the key findings of the study as they relate to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. The report summarizes key themes and provides associated recommendations.

Download Report

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Native Veterans Homeownership Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs.

Robert Dunsmore

Geri Opsal

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Native Veterans Homeownership Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs.

Robert Dunsmore

Geri Opsal


Physical Issues

About


Our Physical Issues Committee develops and implements strategies to explain and streamline the land lease process, strengthen infrastructure development efforts, and increase housing stock on Native land.

7

leasehold flowcharts

121

interns completed CIP

14,800

hours of work experience

81

full-time job placements

29

contractors increased capacity

4

contractor trainings

2025

MILESTONES

> Offer Contractor Capacity Building Trainings
> Continue to increase number of appraisers doing trust land appraisals
> Research strategies to increase home construction affordability
> Identify energy efficient building methods and materials
> Add Construction Internship site
> Increase number of certified inspectors
> Develop construction/builder due diligence checklist
> Continue EDA goals (supported by good jobs)

2025

MILESTONES

> Offer Contractor Capacity Building Trainings
> Continue to increase number of appraisers doing trust land appraisals
> Research Strategies to increase home construction affordability
> Identify energy efficient building methods and materials
> Add Construction Internship Site
> Increase number of certified inspectors
> Develop construction/builder due diligence checklist
> Continue EDA goals (supported by good jobs)

"This work is focused on the place where homeownership intersects land, infrastructure, and housing stock issues."

Events


2025
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Resources


2021 Construction Internship Program Report


This report looks back on the past five years of the internship, identifying key elements of success, lifting up stories of successful interns and partners, and sharing overall data.

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2020 Construction Internship Program Report


This unique report shares how the Construction Internship Program looked at each partner site during the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the impacts that were achieved, and lessons learned.

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Appraisal Market Study


This report describes the market for home appraisals on the nine Indian reservations in South Dakota and evaluates potential business opportunities for appraisers on reservation lands.

Download Journal

2017-2019 Construction Internship Program Report


This report shares details about our Construction Internship Program over its three-year history, including an explanation of how the program works and how it has evolved, program impact and outcomes, success stories, key partnerships, lessons learned, and plans for the future.

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2018 Construction Internship Program Report


After piloting our Construction Internship Program in summer 2017 on the Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge Reservations, the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition worked with partner organizations in these tribal communities to solidify and strengthen the program in summer 2018.

Download Journal

2017 Construction Internship Program Report


In 2017, the Coalition designed and implemented a new construction internship pilot program as a strategy to address a primary obstacle to Native homeownership – lack of housing stock.

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Leasehold Process Flowcharts


We have developed a series of flowcharts to help homebuyers navigate the process to obtain a lease on trust land on each of South Dakota’s nine reservations.

Download Flowcharts

Barriers to Residential Construction


This paper examines the challenges to residential construction in Native communities, describes efforts to date to address these challenges, and proposes future strategies to tackle these barriers.

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Classification of Housing Types


There are many different types of housing. This informational sheet describes the types of housing that are commonly used and classifies them by construction methods.

Download Now

Homeownership Process Flowchart


We developed a flow chart that provides a general outline of the homeownership process that Native Americans would typically encounter on tribal lands.

Download Now

Homebuilding Process


Although every homebuilding experience is unique, this chart outlines four main phases leading up to home construction on tribal lands.

Download Now

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Physical Issues Committee,
please contact one of the committee chairs. 

Tawney Brunsch
Lakota Funds

Dustin Baird
Independent Contractor

Eric Shepherd
Sisseton Wahpeton

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Physical Issues Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs. 

Tawney Brunsch
Lakota Funds

Dustin Baird
Independent Contractor

Eric Shepherd
Sisseton Wahpeton


Homebuyer Readiness

About


The Homebuyer Readiness Committee implements strategies to help housing practitioners increase homebuyer readiness in the communities they serve.

47

certified homebuyer educators

30

certified financial educators

16

certified post-purchase trainers

17

financial coaches

6

new HERO partners

2025

MILESTONES

> Train the trainer for Post Purchase Training.
> Create a DPA guide for employees with a list of resources.
> Train the trainer with Pathways and Building Native Communities Curriculum (Oweesta or National American Housing Council/NAIHC).
> Train the trainer on the different loan types
> Work with tribes, BIA and counties for homebuyer land sites in South Dakota.
> Research diverse types of homes (Dome, Transitional, Manufactured) that would be good for South Dakota Climate.
> Best practices for Train the trainer financial empowerment for clients after the homebuyer class and who have not bought a home yet.
> Worth Reporting

"We are providing tools and resources for practitioners who are on the front lines and guiding Native families along their unique paths to homeownership."

Events


2025
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News


Resources


Financial Coaching Report


This report details the Coalition’s 10-month “financial coaching to support homeownership” initiative. It explains how financial coaching can support homeownership programs, what steps participants took to implement a financial coaching approach, and provides a case study.

Download Report

Homeownership Practitioner Resource Bank


Access an online resource bank with a variety of tools and templates designed especially for practitioners who are on the front lines of the Native American homeownership movement.

Access Resource Bank

Homebuyer Journal


This journal was developed as a tool that homebuyer practitioners could provide to their clients as they travel the path toward homeownership. It includes an abundance of exercises on vision, values, and goals, as well as budgeting templates and calendars.

Order Journals

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Homebuyer Readiness Committee,
please contact one of the committee chairs.

Michelle Running Wolf
Cheyenne River Housing Authority

Amanda Standing Bear
Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Homebuyer Readiness Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs.

Red Dawn Foster
SDNHOC Housing Development Subsidiary

Amanda Standing Bear
Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial


Coalition & Member Sustainability

About


The Coalition & Member Sustainability Committee focuses on building the sustainability of the Coalition and its member organizations through a variety of methods.

$45,000

membership dues

2

reports published

2

homeownership assessments

2025

MILESTONES

> Review and approve GPHI 3-year projections.
> Create a list of additional revenue streams and develop a mini-capitalization plan.
> Seek 3 new investments for our Native Access Pool.
> Finalized a tiered membership protocol with associated benefits.
> Facilitate one additional housing needs assessment in a tribal community.

2025

MILESTONES

> Review and approve GPHI 3-year projections
> Create a list of additional revenue streams and develop a mini-capitalization plan.
> Seek 3 new investments for our Native Access Pool.
> Finalized a tiered membership protocol with associated benefits.
> Facilitate one additional housing needs assessment in a tribal community.

"We recognize the importance of this work and are committed to identifying and implementing strategies to ensure the Coalition’s long-term viability."

Events


2025
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Resources


Cheyenne River Housing Needs Study


The information provided in this report provides an assessment of the unique supply and demand characteristics that makes up the housing market on Cheyenne River.

Download Report

Rosebud Housing Needs Study


The study examines the state of the current and future housing market on Rosebud in part to demonstrate the unique challenges faced within this market.

Download Journal

Standing Rock Housing Needs Study


This study aimed to determine the needs, homeownership preferences, and affordability criteria of three specific target populations: tribal employees, tribal members nearing retirement, and veterans.

Download Report

Yankton Housing Needs Study


The purpose of this study was to understand the housing needs within the Yankton Reservation, as well as the barriers and opportunities related to homeownership.

Download Report

Lender Assessment


The Coalition commissioned a capacity-building needs assessment to evaluate the barriers and opportunities for lenders providing mortgage financing on tribal trust land.

Download Report

Practitioner Assessment


The Coalition commissioned a capacity-building needs assessment to identify specific capacity-building needs of housing practitioners and other Coalition members.

Download Journal

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Coalition & Member Sustainability Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs. 

Red Dawn Foster
SDNHOC Housing Development Subsidiary

Lori Moen
South Dakota Housing Development Authority

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Coalition & Member Sustainability Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs. 

Red Dawn Foster
SDNHOC Housing Development Subsidiary

Lori Moen
South Dakota Housing Development Authority


Policy

About


The Policy Committee identifies and addresses systemic policies that are impediments to Native homeownership.

3

GPTCA resolutions passed

1

tribal leaders summit

1

major policy victory

2

trips to Washington DC

2025

MILESTONES

> Develop annual federal & state policy recommendations
> Identify key Coalition impact indicators to share annually with policy makers
> Submit public comment letters, as appropriate.
> Build relationships with and provide briefings to SD congressional delegation, SD state legislators, Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association.
> Partner with NAIHC to organize a congressional staff visit to SD in August 2025
> Deliver advocacy training for Coalition members, including strategies to educate tribal leadership about homeownership issues
> With local member organizations and partners, organize a homeownership fair for each tribal community that includes a presentation to tribal council about the role of the tribe.

2025

MILESTONES

> Develop annual federal & state policy recommendations.
> Identify key coalition impact indicators to share annually with policy makers.
> Submit public comment letters, as appropriate.
> Build relationships with and provide briefings to SD congressional delegation, SD state legislators, Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association.
> Partner with NAIHC to organize a congressional staff visit to SD in August 2025
> Deliver advocacy training for Coalition members, including strategies to educate tribal leadership about homeownership issues.
> With Local member organizations and partners, organize a homeownership fair for each tribal community that includes, a presentation to tribal council about the role of the tribe.

"Many of the barriers to Native homeownership stem from policies that were implemented over 100 years ago. We are advocating for a clear path to Native homeownership."

Events


2025
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News


Resources


2020 Federal Policy Recommendations


The Coalition has developed recommendations to advocate for federal policies that support Native homeownership.

Download Policy Recommendations

502 Relending Pilot Progress Report


This report details how the 502 Relending Pilot project has increased access to the USDA 502 Direct Loan in tribal communities.

Download Progress Report

Housing Opportunity Fund Case Studies


This set of case studies highlights how South Dakota’s Housing Opportunity Fund is creating homeownership opportunities in tribal communities.

Download Case Studies

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Policy Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs.

J.C. Crawford
CBJ Producers

Sharon Vogel
Cheyenne River Housing Authority

Get Involved!


To get involved with the Policy Committee, please contact one of the committee chairs.

J.C. Crawford
CBJ Producers

Sharon Vogel
Cheyenne River Housing Authority


Home

Our Collective Path to Homeownership

From 2016-2021, our stakeholders have created a multitude of homeownership opportunities.

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$23,448,438

LOANS DEPLOYED

70

HOMES RENOVATED

183

NEW HOMEOWNERS

884

TRAININGS DELIVERED

Strategic Focus Areas

We effectively promote Native American homeownership by facilitating five working committees that strategically address and overcome key issues and pave the way for homeownership among the Native American people of South Dakota.

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Resources & Information

We are dedicated to disseminating information that will create homeownership opportunities for Native Americans.  Check out our interactive resource guides for funding programs, service providers, and downloadable reports and resources!

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Sharing Our Pathway

Our coalition-building toolkit was designed as a tangible guide to replicate our model in your community, ultimately increasing access to homeownership for Native people.

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"Creating a Clear Path to Homeownership"


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