Osage Nation Awarded Tribal Homeless Veterans Grant

PAWHUSKA, Okla. (January 15, 2016) – Left to right, Sarah Derryberry, Joe Freeman, Candy Thomas, Penny Bradford, Christopher Standing Bear, Clark Batson, Jodie Revard, Lynette Miles, and Amanda Buffalohead.

From the Office of Self-Governance, Planning and Grants Management and The Financial Assistance Program

PAWHUSKA, Okla. (January 19, 2016) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Jan. 8 that the Osage Nation would be one of 26 Native American nations across the U.S. awarded a grant to assist Native American homeless Veterans. The new program will provide housing for Native American veterans that are “homeless” or “at risk of homelessness” living on or near a reservation or other Native American community.

“We cannot do enough for our veterans who are in need of good housing so I am very pleased to see our Osage Nation team be successful in this project,” said Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear.

The program is intended to assist tribal veterans obtain a better future by providing a roof over their heads combined with necessary support services and case management.

Through the Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) Program, the Osage Nation Financial Assistance Program will provide housing vouchers for Native American homeless veterans. The voucher system will give preference to homeless Osage Veterans living in and around Osage County.

“With the voucher program, individuals have the ability, within certain guidelines, to identify where they would like to live, and make arrangements to do so by working with the Osage Nation Financial Assistance Program and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Case Management Program,” said Jodie Revard, Director of the Osage Nation Financial Assistance Program.

Tribal HUD-VASH will be administered in partnership with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). As part of the partnership, the Osage Nation will work with the VAMC to provide supportive services for Native American veterans in this area. A Veterans Affairs Case Manager will determine initial eligibility and then refer the Native veteran to the Osage Nation Financial Assistance Program. Eligibility requirements for the voucher include: 1) Native American; 2) Income-eligible; and 3) not registered as a lifetime sex offender.

Ms. Revard stated, “Representatives of the VAMC and the Osage Nation will be meeting very soon to outline the details of administering the new program.”

For Media Inquiries: Osage Nation Communications 918-287-5599 communications@osagenation-nsn.gov