Financial Assistance for Native Americans: Bridging the Gap and Empowering Communities
- Author: Martha Stanton
- Posted: 2024-06-21
Access to financial assistance is crucial for Native American communities that have historically faced unique challenges that have left them with high rates of unemployment and poverty in the United States.
While traditional welfare programs are available, they have failed to provide even basic needs for these communities. Fortunately, the US government offers several programs that provide financial assistance to tribal members on or near reservations.
The main government-run social assistance program in the United States is Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), also known as welfare.
Native American communities also have their own welfare plans, such as the Navajo Nation Division of Social Services, which offer assistance for water, energy and school clothing for families with incomes of less than 60% of their state’s median income.
The Federal government also offers several unique financial assistance programs aimed at individual Native Americans. The Financial Assistance and Social Services program of the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides cash assistance to those who don’t qualify for the TANF program.
Additionally, there are several financial assistance programs, such as the 477 programs, which provide increased self-determination to tribes by raising employment opportunities for Native Americans and facilitating native-owned businesses.
Other benefits available to Native Americans include:
- family and child education
- home loans
- food distribution on reservations
- scholarships, and more
However, membership in a federally recognized tribe is required to qualify for these benefits, and the criteria for membership differ for each tribe.
To apply for financial assistance, individuals must prove membership in a tribe recognized by the US, income status, personal identity, and that they have applied for other forms of general assistance.
Despite the range of financial assistance programs offered to them, research has shown that Native American communities still suffer from grossly inadequate federal support. Nevertheless, these programs provide a vital support system for those who need it.
