Thursday, June 15, 2006Hello everyone,I have some info for you about the article I sent out yesterday regarding FEMA & the trailers. I have spoken with Senator Tim Johnson's office (SD) about what we can do in Indian Country, to help encourage FEMA to change their decision about donating excess trailers to the South Dakota Reservations for housing and schooling. What they have requested from us is this: They would like all of your letters to be mailed directly to Senator Johnson, he will then forward them to the appropriate contact at FEMA. The address is listed below. You may also email Senator Johnson your letters, please go to the link listed below and email direct from their website. To email Senator Tim Johnson http://johnson.senate.gov/offices.html To mail or fax Senator Tim Johnson Washington Office: 136 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone (202) 224-5842 TDD (202) 224-8279 Fax (202) 228-5765 *Toll Free from anywhere in South Dakota*: 1-800-537-0025 Please include in ALL letters & emails your Name and mailing address. This is required info, without it, your letter will not be considered valid. Some suggested issues for the focus of your letters: The urgent need in Indian Country for housing and additional school classrooms The lack of available housing in Indian Country The substandard living conditions in the existing homes in Indian Country The South Dakota Reservations have the highest poverty rate in the country. In your letters, PLEASE BE RESECTFUL! Do not send hateful or bashing letters, it will only hurt our plea. Be respectful, use a intelligent basis on why they should help the people of Indian Country, state the urgency for housing and school houses in South Dakota. I have included some statistics and facts that I have. You may use the info provided to add to your letters. Change the wording if you wish, but keep the general basis the same. The Indian Housing Authority reports that it is not uncommon for 20 or more residents to live in a three-bedroom, one bath home with three or four generations under one roof. People regularly double up with family members and friends, waiting years until a home or apartment becomes available. The waiting list usually will include over 400 families waiting for rental and homeownership units (2003:342). The rate of homeownership on South Dakota reservations laggs substaintly behind the state of South Dakota’s rate of 68.2 percent of the occupied housing units in the state. Beyond unemployment and underemployment, factors influencing this include the lack of willing lenders in the area and a lack of available housing. Conventional lenders will not loan money to build homes on trust land. Since nearly all federally recognized reservations’ lands fall into this category, the majority of Native Americans are not able to secure these loans. Few people have the knowledge of how to overcome these barriers to develop housing on their own. In addition to overcrowding, many of the units available are in substandard condition. Some reservations have estimated that 24 percent of the Indian population resides in substandard housing" (SDHDA 2003:341). It is not uncommon for mobile home dealers to sell trailers on the reservation that would not be in acceptable condition to sell elsewhere in the state. Houses often lack working plumbing and functioning heaters. Some homes still use wood burning stoves to keep warm. Many of the homes have holes in the roof or floor. Often, families live in households that should have been condemned long ago, simply because there is no other place for them to go. For those of you that may be receiving this email and have not read the above mentioned article, please visit FEMA: Trailers not for Indian housing shortage MSNBC - Jun 13, 2006 ... not help Indian country relieve a housing or schoolroom shortage with the trailers not used after Hurricane Katrina. Sen. Tim Johnson, DS.D., suggested to FEMA ... I will also be generating a online petition addressed to FEMA, will forward that out later this evening. PLEASE CROSS POST & FORWARD!!!! LET'S FLOOD THEM WITH LETTERS! I already warned Senator Johnson's office that they will be flooded, they said GREAT, WE LOVE IT! If you have any questions, please email me direct at Tamra@NDNnews.com Thank you for your help! Tamra Thunder Fox 4:12 PM 
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