Native Hawaiian veterans with homes on Kaua’i lands managed by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are getting a helping hand from U.S. Daniel Akaka. Akaka (D-Hawai’i) has introduced legislation to permanently authorize the Native American Veteran Housing Loan
Native Hawaiian veterans with homes on Kaua’i lands managed by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are getting a helping hand from U.S. Daniel Akaka.
Akaka (D-Hawai’i) has introduced legislation to permanently authorize the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, which provides funds for building and purchasing homes on trust lands.
So far, about 200 loans originated in Hawai’i for Native Hawaiian veterans living on Hawaiian homelands and those living in American Samoa and Saipan.
The authority to provide the loans under this program ends Dec. 31, which would be devastating, Akaka said.
“Without this program, it would be incredibly difficult for Native Americans living on trust lands to obtain home loan financing,” he said.
Permanent authorization would enable Native American veterans to gain equal access to services available to other veterans, Akaka said.
In 1992, Akaka sponsored legislation establishing a five-year program calling for direct loans to Native Americans veterans living on trust lands. In 1997, the program, which is administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs, was extended four years.
Before the initial legislation was approved, Native Americans living on trust lands didn’t qualify for VA home loan benefits.
Akaka said the VA has addressed the needs of hundreds of tribal entities and has entered into agreements to provide loans to members of 59 tribes and Pacific island groups. At the same time, negotiations continue with other tribes, Akaka said.
Since the start of the VA program, 233 Native American veterans have bought homes, with none of the loans foreclosed, Akaka said.
