Lodestar
STTARS's Quarterly Housing Newsletter

December 2023 Edition

Photo of STTARS Housing Center Team members (left to right): Brianna Cervantes, Program Assistant; Caroline LaPorte, STTARS Director; Senior Housing Specialist Gwendolyn Packard; and STTARS Safe Housing and Shelter Specialist Clarice Charlie-Hubbard. /Photo credit to STTARS.

Greetings, relatives! As we usher in December, we're thrilled to present the latest edition of Lodestar! Within this quarter’s newsletter, you'll find noteworthy STTARS-related updates, including our feature in USA Today, our attendance at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)'s 80th Annual Convention & Marketplace, highlights from the National Homelessness Law Coalition’s webinar, and a sneak peek at upcoming events.

Throughout the year, we have made significant strides in advancing our mission to end violence against Native women and advocate for safe housing. None of it would have been possible without the collective strength of survivors, advocates, and our partners. Together, let us continue to create safe, secure, and supportive housing solutions for all our relatives.

We wish you all a peaceful and joyful holiday season filled with warmth and connection. Thank you for being part of the STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center (STTARS) family. May the new year bring renewed hope and continued success in our shared mission

STTARS's Gwen Featured in USA Today!

Gwen (left), pictured alongside STTARS Director Caroline LaPorte (right), has worked for many years in Indian Country at the local, national, and Tribal levels. /Photo courtesy of STTARS.

"The backbone of America is really, you know, Indigenous contributions to... food, commerce, and industry. World War One veterans, who at that time didn't even have the right to vote, and yet our men were signing up volunteering to be part of the military to defend the country, and we were just thinking that that story needs to be told.”

— Gwen Packard. USA Today, November 2023

Our STTARS Senior Housing Specialist, Gwen Packard (Inhanktonwan Dakota), was featured in the November 2023: Native Americans edition of USA Today! The article itself reflects on the roots of Native American Heritage Month, emphasizing the need for Native voices to be represented and included across all facets of history. In 1975, as a direct response to the United States' 200th bicentennial celebration, Gwen was compelled to write letters to the White House and the Hill, advocating for the need to include Native peoples for our part in building the Nation's backbone. As a result, we now honor the month of November as Native American Heritage Month every single year! 

Acknowledging the contributions of Native people goes beyond “setting the record straight” or a simple byline. It entails recognizing our communities' hard work, sacrifice, and resilience long before we were considered members of a society that still fails to safeguard us.

Thank you, Gwen, for playing the cornerstone role in making Native American Heritage Month, a month of honoring one’s culture and ancestors, a reality today. Please read the full article here.

 Photo of STTARS Housing Center Team members: STTARS Safe Housing and Shelter Specialist Clarice Charlie-Hubbard and Senior Housing Specialist Gwendolyn Packard. Photo credit to Brianna Cervantes.

STTARS & NIWRC at NCAI

STTARS and the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) attended the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 80th Annual Convention & Marketplace in New Orleans, LA, from November 13-17!

Not only did we enjoy distributing our resources and chatting with everyone who stopped by our table, but we're proud to highlight the presentation on policy recommendations and updates from the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Native Women by Caroline LaPorte, STTARS Director. The Task Force serves as a space for Tribal advocates, Tribal leaders, and survivors to discuss ongoing and pressing issues in the fight against violence in our communities.

For more information on the STTARS's policy priorities, don't hesitate to get in touch with Caroline! Please contact her via email at claporte@niwrc.org. 

Peer-to-Peer National ARP Convening

Photo left to right Tami Jerue, Executive Director AKNWRC; Gwendolyn Packard, STTARS;
Shawndell Dawson, Director OFVPS; and Dorma Sahneyah, Deputy Director NIWRC. / Photo courtesy of NIWRC.

On October 3, STTARS presented at the inaugural 2023 Peer-to-Peer
National ARP Convening in Washington DC on “Navigating the Housing Spectrum,
A Roadmap for Advocates.” As we know, it’s not uncommon for Tribal domestic violence advocates to wear many hats—this session focused on the “housing” hat! 

Since the early days of our movement to end violence, advocates have been deeply aware of the critical role of safe housing and shelter for survivors. We know it is often the number one reason women stay in abusive relationships; they don’t want to be homeless and out on the streets with their children. We know there is a severe lack of housing, shelter, and resources in Tribal communities. We know that domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and MMIW can be both the precursor to and the result of housing insecurity and homelessness. We understand that the lack of safe housing is one of the top reasons for removing children from their families. We must learn more about the housing spectrum to expand and create additional options and resources for survivors.

To view the slides from this presentation, click here. 

Roundtable Discussion: Increasing
Safe Housing Options

Photo left to right: Caroline LaPorte, STTARS Director; Linda Retka, National American Indian Housing Council; Paloma Sanchez, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless; Norine Hill, Executive Director Mother Nation; Eileen Hudon, Ogitchidakwe Council and Dawn Begay, City of Albuquerque.

On October 12 and 13, in Washington DC, STTARS aided in organizing and facilitating a roundtable event hosted by the Office of Family Violence Prevention Services (OFVPS) to discuss an increase in safe housing options for survivors. Consistent with our mission to center and elevate the voices of survivors, we brought in members of our National Workgroup Safe Housing for American Indian and Alaska Native Survivors of Gender-Based Violence to participate in panel discussions and presentations to inform policymakers, funders, the public, and private partners on the state of housing for Indigenous survivors both on and off-reservation. 

National Conference on Domestic Violence

On October 24, STTARS presented on "Housing Policy and Practice
Recommendations from the Voices of Indigenous Survivors" at the National
Conference on Domestic Violence in Washington DC, supported by the
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the National Domestic
Violence Hotline. This national conference, “Every Survivor. Every Voice.
Building Power Together” brought domestic violence advocates, coalitions,
community leaders, grassroots organizers, allies, and survivors together to share and unite over the shared mission: A world free of domestic violence. Thank you all for attending this session. 

HUD ONAP National Tribal Housing Summit

Iris Friday (left), Native American Program Specialist HUD, and Georgette Smith (right), Executive Director, Native Learning Center, Seminole Nation, FL. / Photo courtesy of STTARS.

STTARS presented "Housing Policy Recommendations from the Voices of Indigenous Survivors" at the HUD ONAP National Tribal Housing Summit at the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront in St. Paul, MN, on November 1. This year’s theme focused on innovations in Indian housing. This summit brought together the most promising practices that focused on Tribal housing and community development needs. STTARS was delighted to network and connect with members of our National Workgroup, private and federal partners, Tribal housing, technical assistance providers, and community organizations. 

STTARS’ Director as Panelist 

On November 8, STTARS Director Caroline LaPorte demonstrated on the need for culturally responsive housing and shelter resources in Tribal communities as a panelist for the National Homelessness Law Coalition’s webinar on their housing report card. To view a recording of the webinar, click here. 

STTARS Celebrates New Director of Policy, Kerri 

Kerri Colfer (above) earned a B.A. in English Literature from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and a J.D. from the Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. / Photo courtesy of Kerri Colfer. 

We also would like to congratulate Kerri Colfer (Tlingit), recently promoted to NIWRC’s Director of Policy. Kerri was the Congressional Advocate on Native American Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) in Washington, D.C., working with Native and non-Native partners and members of Congress to advance Native policy, focusing on addressing violence against Native women.

In addition to developing and overseeing NIWRC's national and Tribal policy initiatives, Kerri serves as a commissioner on the Not Invisible Act Commission (NIAC), a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee dedicated to improving intergovernmental coordination and establishing best practices for state, Tribal, and federal law enforcement to bolster resources for survivors and victims' families, combatting the crises of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).  Please click here to view the official list of recommendations released on November 1st.

Upcoming STTARS Events

 Save the Date

🗓️ December 21: Upcoming Webinar at 1 p.m. (MST)
Practice Informed Policy Recommendations Based on Work with Our Unhoused Relatives via Zoom - Register now!

(See below for a detailed description.)

Practice Informed Policy Recommendations Based on Work With Our Unhoused Relatives

STTARS is hosting its annual Winter Solstice webinar on December 21, the first day of Winter and the longest night of the year. We chose this date as a time to expand our knowledge around the complex intersections of housing insecurity, homelessness, and gender-based violence, hear from frontline housing advocates on what they are doing in their communities, focus on the critical need for legal assistance, and develop practice informed policy recommendations that uplift the voices of survivors. This is also an important time to bring awareness and understanding to this critical issue and to honor all our unsheltered relatives who have lost their lives on the streets. We hope that you will join us for this critical conversation. 

STTARS uplifts two of our new STTARS Safe Housing Team Members: Clarice Charlie-Hubbard and Brianna Cervantes. We are happy to celebrate and raise our two new STTARS Housing Center Team additions! Read more about them below.

Photo of Clarice Charlie-Hubbard. /Photo courtesy of Clarice Charlie-Hubbard. 

Introducing Clarice Charlie-Hubbard, the dedicated STTARS Safe Housing and Shelter Specialist at the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. Clarice is a proud member of the Te-moak Tribe and belongs to the Western Shoshone community. Originally from Bishop, CA, she now calls Sparks, NV, her home. Clarice's remarkable journey in advocating for survivors of domestic violence began with her volunteer work in her local community. Eventually, she relocated to Reno, Nevada, where she joined the Domestic Violence Resource Center (formerly known as the Committee to Aid Abused Women) before discovering her true calling in supporting Native communities. Clarice's unwavering commitment to her Native people led her to the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada’s Family Violence Prevention Program (ITCN-FVPP). Over an impressive 17-year tenure as Program Director, she took the lead in various crucial initiatives, including providing essential emergency services, securing vital federal funding, fostering collaborative partnerships, and expanding the program's statewide reach. Her tireless efforts resulted in significant improvements to safety resources for Native survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and other forms of violence. Clarice's leadership extends beyond her role; she also served as a board member for the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCEDSV). In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she received the prestigious National Visionary Voice award from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center in 2019. Clarice holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno. We are thankful to have Clarice as a part of our center! Welcome, Clarice! 

Photo of Brianna Cervantes.  Photo courtesy of Brianna Cervantes. 

Brianna Cervantes: Welcome to STTARS!

Brianna Cervantes, Chumash, is excited to be a part of STTARS as a Program Assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Behavioral Science with a minor in American Indian Studies from California State University, Fresno. Her goal is to use her education to support Indigenous survivors, whether through survivor advocacy or mental health services. After graduation, Brianna worked for a non-profit organization offering programs and services to incarcerated individuals, emphasizing restorative practices. This experience deepened her understanding of trauma's impact on people's life journeys and highlighted the importance of community and survivor-centered approaches. Brianna also expresses gratitude to her family and communities, particularly those in her homelands in Fresno (Yokut and Mono homelands), for their constant love and support. Kaqʰinalin.

 Announcements

• On November 1, the Not Invisible Act Commission published its awaited report. View the report here. 
• NEW PODCAST Featuring STTARS and Melissa Brings Them has been released! Listen here. 
• NIWRC General Counsel Mary Kathryn Nagle’s play "Manahatta" is showing with Public Theater New York City now through December 16. “A gripping journey from the fur trade of the 1600s to the stock trade of today, Mary Kathryn Nagle's 'MANAHATTA' tells the story of Jane Snake, a brilliant young Native woman with a Stanford MBA. Jane reconnects with her ancestral Lenape homeland, known as Manahatta, when she moves from Oklahoma to New York for a banking job just before the 2008 financial meltdown. Jane’s struggle to reconcile her new life with the expectations and traditions of her family and Nation is powerfully interwoven with the heartbreaking history of the Delaware Nation's expulsion from their land. Both old and new Manhattan converge in a lesson about the dangers of living in a society where there’s no such thing as enough.” For more information, visit this link.

 Other Stories

• The Haze Has Lifted, But The Threat Remains: Climate Impacts On Public Health And The Case For Emergency Preparedness.
• ‘Six Times The Size Of Yosemite’: The New Tribal Sanctuary Off The Super-Rich California Coast.
• El Paso County Commissioners Deny $20,750 To Youth Homelessness Nonprofit.
• Homeless Camps Are Being Cleared In California. What Happens Next?
• Supreme Court Ruling Complicates Navajo Nation’s Fight For More Water
• Cities Crack Down on Homeless Encampments. Advocates Say That’s Not the Answer.
• New Legislation Proposes to Take Wall Street Out of the Housing Market
• 5 Years After California’s Deadliest Wildfire, Survivors Forge Different Paths Toward Recovery.
• The Americans Most Threatened by Eviction: Young Children.

Watch

• OVW Consultation Webinar
• STTARS May 5 MMIW Webinar
• HUD ONAP and STTARS Two-Part Webinar Series:
  • (Slidedeck) Gender-Based Violence: An Overview for Tribes and TDHEs
  • (Slidedeck) Best Practices and Policy Recommendations from the Voices of Survivors 
• HUD Consultation Guidance
• STTARS Invited to Gates Foundation for DV Housing First Symposium 
• The Trilateral Working Group on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls
• Housing as a Mitigating Factor for MMIWG
• Housing ADA Fact Sheet 

We have pass-through ARP funds for domestic violence programs and shelters and not-for-profit organizations. Eligible programs can receive up to $15,000 per award and reapply for additional funds. Our main priority for this funding is to support Tribal programs and community organizations serving Indigenous survivors of gender-based violence at the intersection of housing instability and homelessness.