Land Bank Program
Land Bank Program
Land Ownership & Home Construction Pathways.
Beth Din Homeowners Advocacy (BDHA) is partnering with the Royal Tribal University offerring free scholarship opportunities for our clients. They will learn how to trace their indigenous roots and Claim Land through the Pamunkey Powhatan Renape Land Bank Ministry. Craft Your Home. Rebuild Your Legacy.
RTU’S Land Bank Program is a hands-on, action-driven initiative created specifically to put land and homeownership within reach for those who have been pushed to the margins. Through our official partnership with Beth Din Homeowners Advocacy (BDHA), we guide individuals and families — especially those experiencing homelessness or housing instability — to locate,
purchase, and develop landbank properties into safe, personalized homes they can truly call
their own.
This is not a lecture series. This is a complete pathway that teaches you how to secure land through public land bank systems and then access the exact tools, materials, funding, and support networks needed to build or restore a home on that land — all while honoring the tribal values of self-determination, community stewardship, and generational wealth creation that
define Royal Tribal University.
Your Step-by-Step Journey to Land and Home
Module 1
Land Acquisition Fundamentals
- Identify and evaluate thousands of available landbank, surplus county, and city-owned parcels across New York (many priced under $10,000)
- Master the full acquisition process: applications, competitive bids, title review, environmental checks, and closing
- BDHA advocates review every contract with you before you commit
- Special priority pathways for veterans, justice-involved individuals, and families exiting shelters
Module 2
Home Construction & Resource Activation
- Discover free and low-cost building resources: reclaimed lumber programs, donated building supplies, modular home kits, container-home conversions, and sweat-equity builder cooperatives
- Connect directly to forgivable construction grants, zero-interest micro-loans, and landbank-specific rehabilitation funds
- Learn practical construction skills: site preparation, basic framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, insulation, and off-grid solar options
- Work side-by-side with licensed tradespeople who offer discounted or volunteer labor exclusively to Royal Tribal University + BDHA participants
Module 3
Sustainable Ownership & Wealth Protection
- Design homes that cut energy costs by 50% or more
- Navigate permitting, inspections, and code compliance with built-in shortcuts for landbank buyers
- Lock in property-tax relief, homestead exemptions, and long-term equity-building strategies
- Explore ways to generate income from your land (accessory dwelling units, community
gardens, or future family compounds)
Full-Spectrum Support from
Day One
Every participant is paired with:
- A dedicated Royal Tribal Land Navigator
- A BDHA Home-Building Resource Specialist
- Credit repair and financing coaches who start from wherever your score is today
- Legal protection throughout the entire process — purchase, construction, and beyond
- Monthly peer circles and 24-month aftercare to ensure you stay on track
Who This Program Serves
- People currently in shelters, transitional housing, or facing eviction
- Veterans, returning citizens, domestic violence survivors, and single parents
- Anyone who has never owned land before but is ready to learn and build
- No construction experience or high credit score required — just determination
Graduates of the Royal Tribal University Land Bank Program have moved from sidewalk to soil ownership and from temporary shelter to permanent, self-built homes in as little as 12–20 months.
Begin Your Land & Home Journey Today
- Fill out the quick, private Interest Form below
- Speak with a BDHA advocate in a no-pressure intake call
- Join our next free in-person or virtual orientation in Charlotte and receive your personal Land Acquisition Starter Kit