Osage Nation Invited To Apply For Tribal Veteran’s Housing Grant
CONTACT:
Chris Standingbear
The Osage Nation
Senior Grants Management Specialist
Phone: 918.287.5633
Fax: 918.287.5564
clstandingbear@osagenation-nsn.gov
Pawhuska, Oklahoma, November 10, 2015 – The Osage Nation is one of 30 Native American tribes across the U.S. invited to apply for the new “Tribal” Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Grant (VASH) demonstration program. The new program is intended to provide housing for Native American Veterans that are “homeless” or “at risk of homelessness” living on or near a reservation or other Indian areas.
Osage Nation Chief, Geoffrey Standing Bear, was recently notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the Osage Nation “was selected based on the large number of Native American veterans in this area, as reported by both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the American Community Survey.” The notification went on to say that “as a participant, your tribe… is eligible to receive rental housing assistance for up to 25 units.” Chief Geoffrey M. Standing Bear, “We need this. We must use all of our abilities to attain it.”
If awarded, the program known as the “Tribal HUD – VASH,” will be administered in partnership with the Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). As part of the partnership, the Osage Nation will work with the VAMC to provide supportive services to the Native American veterans in this area. A Veteran’s Affair’s Case Manager will determine a veteran’s initial eligibility and then refer the Native veteran to the appropriate tribe. The tribe will then screen to insure the applicant is: 1) Native American; 2) Income-eligible; and 3) Not registered as a lifetime sex offender. Preference will be given to enrolled Osage Nation citizens.
Director for the Osage Nation Financial Assistance Department, Jodie Revard, says, “This grant is in line with Chief Standing Bear’s goals for the Osage Nation to provide ‘financial hardship assistance’ and ‘Promote healthy communities through wellness initiatives and partnerships.’ This is such a great opportunity for the Osage Nation to provide a service to our Osage Nation Veterans who are struggling with homelessness. We have been working on some services addressing assistance to veterans but being awarded this grant would really reach out to some of the most disadvantaged among them.”
Veteran and Chief of Staff Jason Zaun stated, “This is a great opportunity for us to assist our Native Veterans in the community who are in need of rental housing assistance.” The Osage Nation will submit the grant application in a couple of weeks and should receive notification of final selection in mid-December.