Housing Assistance Breakdown
Native housing is 3x to 8x more likely to have inadequate plumbing, heat, and space for its number of inhabitants than the housing of other Americans. Tribal Nations and other government entities provide many housing services and assistance programs to help turn this tide. But there are so many programs and agencies that it can be difficult to find the right resources for your situation.
One way to make this area easier to untangle is to sort programs by whether or not they require individuals to reside on or near tribal lands. The opportunities for housing assistance are greatest for low-income tribal members who want to reside on tribal lands.
While specific programs and resources vary from tribe-to-tribe, some of the more common programs available to those living on tribal lands include:
Down payment assistance
Rent-to-own opportunities
Tribal housing
Student housing assistance
Assisted living facilities
Domestic violence and homeless shelters
Rehab programs to fix up homes owned by the elderly, veterans, and low-income individuals
You can contact your tribe's Housing Authority to learn more about your Nation’s offerings.
In addition, some federal programs are available to help individuals access housing on tribal lands.
Housing Improvement Program (HIP) is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and provides low-income individuals living in approved tribal service areas with grants for home repair, renovation, replacement, and new housing. This program is intended for folks with no access to standard housing.
Tribal Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and supportive services provided by the VA. This program is for Native American Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness living on or near a reservation or other Indian areas.
Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program can help veterans who are either Native American or married to a Native American secure advantageous loans to buy, build, or improve a home on federal trust land. These loans do not require any down payment or purchase mortgage insurance.
Note that there are many different standards for how different programs describe location. Some specify they operate on “federal trust land,” while others make mention of “other Indian areas,” “reservations” or “tribal lands.” Other programs allow folks to live on or “near” reservations. As always, it’s best to call your tribe or the relevant agency to determine whether you might qualify for a location-based program since these standards can vary.
The second half of this article featuring resources for folks living off-rez is available to Totem's early access customers in the Resources section of the Totem app. Keep an eye on your inbox for your invite if you haven't received it yet!
