The indigenous homebuilding industry cannot grow and provide much-needed housing to tribal communities without a skilled workforce

The Lakota Fund, Inc. was awarded a $10 million Project Grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program (CFDA 11.307) to address severe housing shortages on nine tribal reservations in South Dakota. As the lead organization for the Building Jobs, Building Homes project, Lakota Fund will train Indigenous people in construction trades and certify them as appraisers and inspectors through partnerships with South Dakota State University. This training program will provide wraparound services to support an underserved population and grow the Indigenous homebuilding industry to provide much-needed housing in tribal communities. The grant period runs from September 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025.

As the lead for the building jobs, building homes project, lakota funds - a native community development financial institution (cdfi) - will address a severe housing shortage on tribal lands (across nine reservations) by training indigenous people in construction trades and as certified appraisers and inspectors. In partnership with south dakota state university, lakota funds will implement a certified appraiser program, addressing a significant barrier to housing construction on tribal lands. To support this underserved population, lakota funds will provide a variety of wraparound services during training.