VA honors Native American Veterans’ service with Native American Direct Loan program

Despite historical challenges, Native Americans and Native Alaskans have served at the highest per capita representation in the military. For their sacrifice, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers benefits and programs that are specifically reserved for Native Americans.

One such benefit is VA’s Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program, which helps Native American Veterans buy, build or refinance a home on federal trust land. Through this program, Native American homebuyers can receive low interest rates for loans and limited closing costs, and they do not have to provide down payments or secure private mortgage insurance.

In order to apply for a NADL, their tribe must have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the VA. Since the program’s inception in 1992, the VA has worked with tribal leaders to sign 114 MOUs. VA is committed to raising awareness of NADL’s benefits and reaching Tribal nations that are not yet participating.

Vietnam Veteran David Chee is among the many Native American Veterans and service members who have dedicated their lives to military service. Chee proudly served with the Army's 82nd Airborne, parachuting into the jungles of Vietnam. Chee now owns a home he purchased on Navajo tribal lands with the help of the VA Native American Direct Loan.

The VA worked with Chee and his wife, Anjelita, to overcome many obstacles, including helping them to get water and electric lines run to their new home in Anjelita’s tribal lands of Dilkon, Arizona.

“The NADL program opened the door for us to come home and spend our twilight years surrounded by our family on the tribal lands we love,” said Chee.

Currently in Alaska, the only tribe with a MOU with the VA is the Metlakatla Indian Community.

Veterans and service members who choose not to live on federal trust land can still access homebuying help through the VA-guaranteed home loan program. This program is open to all eligible Veterans and service members and extends some of the same benefits as the NADL program.

“The responsibility of providing the same benefits to our Native American Veterans and service members to help them secure the benefits they have earned is always a top priority,” said VA Loan Guaranty Service Executive Director John E. Bell, III. “I am honored to serve this nation’s Native American Veterans and service members, and one of the best ways is helping them secure homes and build generational wealth through homeownership.”

Before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can consider a NADL application from a Veteran living on Federal Trust Land, the VA and the tribe or sovereign body governing the Federal Trust Land where the home is or will be located must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The MOU sets out the rights and responsibilities of both Government’s with respect to access to the land, default and foreclosure proceedings, and other legal rights and obligations.

Note: Your Tribe must be Federally-recognized. Tribes recognized by a State, but not by the Federal Government, are not eligible for this program.

For more information on how to obtain a NADL, please email us at nadl@va.gov or call 1-888-349-7541.