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Despite Native Americans accounting for 1% of the United States population, they are overrepresented at 5% among the homeless population. To alleviate the challenges experienced by Native people in crisis, Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) supports Program Partners operating residential centers.
Our Program Partner, Connie, is the program director for the Colorado River Regional Crisis Shelter in Parker, Arizona. Situated on the Colorado River Indian Reservation, the shelter serves clients from various Tribal backgrounds during their most difficult times. Through PWNA’s Southwest Indian Relief Council® (SWIRC) program, Connie utilizes our Residential service, which provides the shelter with cleaning supplies, personal care products, toiletries, and other necessities to help the residents navigate their next steps while in the shelter.
SWIRC and the shelter’s partnership supports residents like 28-year-old Maureen* and her infant daughter, Daisy*. Maureen is navigating her newfound independence after leaving an abusive relationship. Although Maureen cannot return home and has limited opportunities at the moment, she believes that moving into the shelter is the best choice as she prepares for a more permanent solution. Maureen told us, “Leaving was a good choice because me and my kids come first. I’ve just been trying to do good and have goals for myself because my kids need me.”
Maureen is using her time at the shelter to build employable skills to work in medical coding and billing to provide a stable home for the three of her five daughters whom she has custody of. Moving on from traumatic experiences in her youth to her eventual sobriety gave Maureen a positive outlook and motivated her to take control of her own life. However, the loss of five relatives in one year added to her grief.
Despite losing most of her natural support network, Maureen is grateful for the shelter staff. Maureen explained, “They’re really understanding of where I’m coming from and where I’m at now.” She added that talking to the staff has helped her during the times when she’s felt depressed and isolated. For those who may be going through a crisis but are not yet willing to take the first step to leave an abusive relationship, Maureen wants them to know to “just take the step because it’s worth it.”
Through SWIRC’s Residential service, Maureen received personal care products, baby supplies, and other necessities to ease her transition into the shelter. Although she is in a crisis moment, Maureen looks forward to acquiring new skills and a safe home for her daughters. In a message to donors, Maureen said, “I’d like to thank them for the support and for the help that they give to the people in the shelter. It really does come in handy because some of us don’t have the funds for it.”
Our generous donors enable us and our Partners to protect and empower vulnerable families. Donate to SWIRC today.
*The names of the participants in this story have been changed to protect their privacy.
