Did you know? STTARS stands for Safety, Technical Assistance and Training, Resources, and Support. Our vision is Safe Housing For All Our Relatives.
Request Housing Training and Technical Assistance from STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center! STTARS provides culturally rooted training and technical assistance, policy development, and Indigenous-centered resource materials to support Tribes, Tribal housing authorities, and Tribal domestic violence programs and shelters to address the intersection of Gender-Based Violence and Housing Insecurity and Homelessness and create safe housing options for survivors. To request T/TA, please fill out the form located on our website with as much detail as possible, and we will be in touch.
Photo courtesy of Native Learning Center
Hoporenkv Native American Podcast Featuring Caroline LaPorte
During our time at the National American Indian Housing Council, Caroline LaPorte was invited to join the Hoporenkv Native American Podcast, a project of the Seminole Tribe of Floridaās Native Learning Center. Hoporenkv is a podcast dedicated to sharing knowledge on Tribal housing, community development, and the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act. Georgette āGeeGeeā Palmer Smith, Executive Director of the Native Learning Center and co-host of Hoporenkv, is a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and a participant in the STTARS National Workgroup on Safe Housing. Additionally, GeeGee is listed as an independent speaker, trainer, and field expert on the STTARS Housing Speakers Bureau.
Episode Description: In this episode, we delve into the critical issue of Indigenous homelessness with a special guest, Caroline LaPorte, the Director of the STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center. Learn about the invaluable work this organization is doing to provide safe and supportive housing for Indigenous individuals. Caroline shares insights into the challenges faced by Indigenous communities and the vital role STTARS plays in addressing them. Discover the range of services offered by the center, from housing assistance to cultural support, and gain a deeper understanding of the impact their work has on the lives of Indigenous peoples.
(Left to right) Gwendolyn Packard, tai simpson, Clarice Charlie-Hubbard, and Kim Benally. Photo courtesy of Clarice Charlie-Hubbard
New Mexico Luminarias Conference: Lighting the Path Forward
STTARS Safe Housing and Shelter Specialist Clarice Hubbard and STTARS Senior Housing Specialist Gwendolyn Packard were invited to present at the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Program's Luminarias Statewide Sexual Assault Conference in June, where their presentation explored connections between sexual violence and housing for Indigenous survivors, highlighting the challenges and barriers survivors face. They also shared strategies and best practices rooted in the Violence Against Women Act, traditional knowledge, and trauma-informed approaches.
Sexual assault is both a precursor to and a consequence of homelessness: Experiencing sexual violence can jeopardize a personās housing, while housing insecurity can increase the risk of violence.
Safe and affordable housing is essential in recovering from a sexual assault. Yet, many Tribal communities, both on and off reservations, lack safe, affordable, accessible, and acceptable housing. Despite complex housing needs, most Indigenous survivors who require housing and supportive services do not receive them.
Gwendolyn Packard / Photo courtesy of Clarice Charlie-Hubbard.
Site Visits in Tucson, Arizona
Clarice Hubbard and Gwendolyn Packard had a productive visit to Southern Arizona, where they conducted site visits with the Tohono Oāodham Nation's Komckud Ki: Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Program and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe's behavioral health staff. They shared information on STTARS, technical support available through the Capacity Building Consortium, and learned of the many valuable programs and resources within these communities. STTARS also connected with the Tucson Indian Center to learn more about its available resources.
(Left to Right) Kim Zahne, Bridie Johnson, Monycka Snowbird / Photo courtesy of Brianna Cervantes.
NIWRC Specialty Institute: Enhancing Indigenous Advocacy for Survivors of IPV Impacted by Trauma, Mental Health, and Substance Use
STTARS Program Assistant Brianna Cervantes attended this yearās NIWRC Specialty Institute, designed to enhance advocates' understanding of the intersection of intimate partner violence, substance use, trauma, and mental health.
The three-day event featured presentations from experts in these fields, who discussed their experiences and shared best practices. Notable sessions included āGlobal Misconceptions and Misunderstandings of Substance Use within Indigenous and Targeted Communitiesā with Christina Love, and āIndigenizing Harm Reduction at the Intersections of Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Useā with Tori Wynecoop. These presentations offered profound insights into the challenges and solutions related to these issues.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the Institute created a supportive environment where participants could communicate openly, exchange advice, and share moments of laughter and community. It was a beautiful space to come together and gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of IPV while also being able to lean on each other for support.
āWe are not morally flawed; we are surviving.ā- Christina Love
Photo of participants from GBVRN meeting / Photo courtesy of Clarice Charlie-Hubbard.
Capacity Building Consortium Members Meet in Harrisburg
The Capacity Building Consortium is composed of the the National Indigenous Womenās Resource Center, the Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence, and the National Network Against Domestic Violence. Members of these national partnerships provide training and capacity-building technical assistance to Tribal grantees, state administrators, and state and territorial coalitions that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Family Violence Prevention Services Act.
Members of the CBC attended the summer session Gender Based Violence Resource Network meeting held August 21-22, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This meeting heavily focused on cultivating and supporting emerging leaders, the impact of generational diversity on teamwork, and leadership dynamics that influence the treatment of emerging leaders. Members also spent the last day focused on the National Plan to End Gender Based Violence.
The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act in October with a commemorative event in Washington, D.C. Additionally, CBC members discussed ongoing technical assistance and the enhancement of collaborations and partnerships.
People of the Sacred Landās Truth, Restoration, and Education Commission of Colorado
This final report presents the comprehensive findings of the Truth, Restoration, and Education Commission of Colorado. Over the past two years, in collaboration with the People of the Sacred Land, TREC has diligently examined Colorado's largely untold history to uncover the root causes of widespread land displacement and the genocide of Native peoples in the state. TRECās primary focus is to restore the status of Tribal Nations in modern-day Colorado and to establish an environment where Native communities in the state can thrive. In the face of irreparable harm, this work is dedicated to the restoration of Indigeneity, relationality, and wellness for the next seven generations.
The TREC report provides an in-depth analysis of the extensive damage endured by Native peoples due to forced relocation, illegal seizure of land, violations of human rights, acts of violence, warfare, deceptive practices, and other illicit actions perpetrated by the state of Colorado, its citizens, the U.S. government, and federal agents over the past 170 years. The report outlines the processes that led to this extermination and pinpoints the entities accountable for implementing harmful policies, agreements, and laws that have had detrimental effects on American Indian populations.
Additionally, the Historic Loss Assessment Report focuses on the quantitative impacts of Euro-American expansion into Colorado, particularly on the aforementioned Tribal communities. This theft of land became the original source of capital that built Colorado.
Key Findings
Value of Dispossessed Lands: Approximately $1.17 trillion (market value in 2021).
Mineral Extraction: Over $546.6 billion (market value in 2018) since 1858.
Agricultural and Water Rights Losses: Not explicitly quantified but significant. Requires further inquiry.
Loss of Life: approximately 710.
Subsequent pain and suffering experienced by survivors and descendants from significant traumatic events are difficult to quantify and requires further inquiry.
From Land Loss, Boarding Schools, and the Indian Child Welfare Act to Housing Insecurities: Addressing Violence and Displacement in Indian Country and the Importance of Low-Barrier Housing Policies for Survivors
STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center is hosting a webinar that will discuss the history of boarding schools and child welfare at the intersection of land loss, gender-based violence, housing disparities, and housing insecurities and the ensuing lasting genocidal impacts on American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States. In this session, our speakers will enhance our understanding of policy development and emphasize the critical need for accessible low-barrier housing policies for survivors of gender-based violence. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and interact during the webinar.
This webinar explores the challenges faced by Two-Spirit survivors of gender-based violence at the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and housing insecurity. In this session, our speaker delves into the multifaceted impacts of these overlapping crises and discusses strategies for supporting and advocating for the Two-Spirit community. They offer practical insights, share lived experiences, and explore culturally responsive solutions to address systemic barriers.
Reimagining Solutions and Advocacy to First Nations Domestic & Family Violence as It Intersects with Housing Insecurity and Homelessness
In recognition of August 9, International Day of the Worldās Indigenous Peoples, STTARS is highlighting the work of Kyllie Cripps, a Palawa woman and Director of Monash Universityās Monash Indigenous Studies Centreāthe oldest Indigenous Studies Centre in Australia.
While Governments in Australia and the United States have improved responses to domestic violence and family violence over the past two decades through law reforms and integrated service systems, recent research has highlighted that they still tend to adopt a āone size fits allā approach. This approach fails to appreciate the intersectional experiences and vulnerabilities of First Nations women and children, putting them at increased risk of poorer outcomes with likely consequences, including children being apprehended by child protection and survivors finding themselves un-housed. These outcomes can have lasting consequences, given that the prospects of reunification can be limited due to the extensive wait lists for public housing and conflicting policies and practices in child protection on time limits for reunification. Against this background, the need for reimagining solutions and advocacy is most urgent. This webinar will reflect on this situation, provide examples of best practice, and give advocates and practitioners some practical advice on breaking down silos to achieve the best outcomes for First Nations families.
Photo of Georgette "GeeGee" Palmer Smith/Photo courtesy of Georgette Palmer Smith.
Today, we are recognizing the work of Georgette āGeeGeeā Palmer Smith, a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Executive Director of the Seminole Tribe of Floridaās Native Learning Center. She is also the co-host of the Hoporenkv Native American Podcast and serves as President of Seminole Taft Street Properties, LLC. The Native Learning Centerās mission is to empower Native Americans by providing housing-related training programs that enhance their quality of life. Georgetteās journey to the Native Learning Center is marked by a career dedicated to empowering communities through education, engagement, and innovation.
GeeGee has been a committed member of our National Workgroup, playing an instrumental role in ensuring that STTARS and our Workgroup members had a productive meeting last year in South Floridaāmore importantly, she diligently worked to ensure our safety as we experienced a 5,000-year flood. GeeGee exemplifies the spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida by prioritizing people and community and consistently offering meaningful support. We are honored by GeeGeeās time, dedication, and the positive impact she brings to our shared work.
Georgette has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of Native Cry Outreach Alliance Inc., where she advocates for suicide prevention awareness and support for survivors of suicide within Native American and Indigenous communities globally. Her certification as a Financial Education Trainer in Building Native Communities by First Nations Oweesta and her certification from the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling highlight her dedication to improving housing education and financial literacy in Indigenous communities.
The Homeless Youth Legal Network offers a comprehensive state-by-state directory of attorneys representing youth and young adults in various legal matters. For personalized assistance, you can reach out to Kelly Russo, Director of the ABA Homeless Youth Legal Network, which is part of the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty. Kelly can help if you encounter difficulties finding a referral. Contact hyln@americanbar.org or 202-662-1695.
If you refer youth to an attorney or make a new connection through the HYLN directory, HYLN WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU! Email hyln@americanbar.org with your legal help success stories. Theyāre also eager to hear your ideas on making legal assistance more accessible to unhoused youth or any questions you have about working with a lawyer.
For additional resources, check out their webinar on accessing legal services to learn about the various issues lawyers can assist with. The Homeless Youth Legal Network also offers a nationwide email listserv to connect members, share best practices and resources, and seek guidance or referrals. To join, email hyln@americanbar.org.
Microsoft Tech for Social Impact is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible technology to help nonprofits of all sizes achieve their mission. Through grants and discounts on products and services to eligible nonprofits worldwide, including solutions like Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365, as well as solutions custom-built for nonprofits like Fundraising and Engagement for Dynamics 365 Sales.
STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center is funded by grant #90EV0537 from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family, and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents of this newsletter are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Our mailing address is: NIWRC, Attn: STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center P.O. Box 99, Lame Deer, MT
Our company address and phone number is:
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center 515 Lame Deer Ave, Lame Deer, MT. 59043 406.477.3896
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