What's Happening At Rosebud? (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: motel, houses, school)

[Jammie]

I just watched the local news and saw the story of the woman with six children who is now homeless. She was receiving 200 a month for heat assistance and the money had run out so she began using a few space heaters so her children had a bit of warmth during our 20-30 below nights. (With windchill) They went to a funeral and when they returned home, their house had burned down from possibly leaving one of the heaters on. Before Tim Johnson's surgery, he had secured a lot of Fema trailers that weren't welcome in New Orleans and they were to be sent over to the reservations from South Carolina. Did they ever make it? Aren't we vocal enough when we have citizens who are suffering? The children don't know if they'll attend school tomorrow since they have only one set of clothes. They were put up in the casino motel on the Rosebud Reservation, but they have to be out by tomorrow. Doesn't the Red Cross come to the aid in situations like this?

[pejuta]

red cross is not set up for some things. i dont know where you live,but i lived in rapid city for past 2 winters,now in spearfish. most people near rapid know about a lot of resources for help there. cornerstone mission is on main st. i think number 30, next to fire station,diagonally across from post office which is on east boulevard. that is good starting point to give resources and some help. also some of churches help with some money and clothing. often newspapers will put out notice of help needed. the squeaky wheel gets greased. people in need must ask and know where to ask, or find out where to go.

[Jammie]

That's a very good point. There is normally a place to go and get help, but I really don't know what's available on the Rosebud reservation. I don't live there, but live further east, but it's still in our viewing area. (tv news) I love Spearfish. It's always been one of my favorite towns and the Canyon is absolutely beautiful.

[BusySocialWorker]

This is the article from the Rapid City Journal - I think sadly it is the same problem most non-profit agencies suffer from - too many in need, and just not enough to go around.

Heat aid runs out in Indian Country
By Kevin Woster, Journal staff

The big chill brought big trouble to western South Dakota American Indian reservations, where leaders are scrambling to help low-income tribal members heat their homes.
Moderator cut: Provide a link instead of copying everything here, please

[pejuta]

many people from rez come to rapid. i know some in need can easily get clothing,sometimes furniture (mostly used stuff) free. as i said in such a case, they should get transportation to rapid and start at cornerstone mission. they have some things avail. such as food ,clothing,occasionally furniture. im sure there are limits there, but i have stayed there and eaten there. you do not have to stay there to eat there. a number of sioux from rez eat there at one time or another. one must start somewhere. TRY!

[ladynitenday]

Jammie, there isn't a lot available on Rosebud. My son and his wife live there and when they need help anymore they often have to come to us because funding just isn't there for what they need. When I still lived there we constantly heard about people being burned out and when you live so far from any place like Rapid or Sioux Falls there often isn't a way to get there for help.
The tribe helps as much as it can and the churches do a lot too, but when they don't get the grants, funding or other monies it's darn hard to hand it out. A lot of people are just plain too proud to ask for help from other than relatives too which also makes a difference. The tribe has houses that they can make available to enrolled members but when there isn't money for fuel it doesn't help much to have shelter that can't be heated.