Housing help is many situations is available

By Joe Budd,

Native Sun News Today Staff

For One Rapid City to COUP, the projects they’re aiming for are lofty, but a good cause. “We started out at One Rapid City, in 2018,” Says LaVonne Roach, community Organizer of COUP. “We are hoping to set up housing that is self-sufficient, eco-friendly. We do have a contact, named Jason who does foam-crete structures, and will help build 10 of our houses.” When talking with her, it was mentioned Rapid City is showing problems, with housing, ranging from expensive rents, to there are just not enough places available right now. “We want to help relatives that get evicted, find affordable housing. When all done, we hot to have 50 houses built, with rents in the 300-500 dollar range, and it will be set up in a community land trust, for a 99 year lease.”

With the housing options, gardens will be established, plus a community garden, in the hopes it will help the community become able to supply 80 percent of the food. And in the future, have buffalo at the community.

“We would also have a community center, to continue to help our relatives. A place to hold classes on language, cultural events and help decolonize the people that live up here.” With the project, she was mentioning funding options, and hoping to get some of the tribes on board, given that members of the tribes will travel here, “come up to Rapid, become homeless, or places aren’t taking section 8.”

She did mention, anyone interested in participating, the COUP meet every other Thursday, at 6pm at 103 East New York Street, suite A, in the old Prairie Market Shopping Center. The advantage, is that people that help, get help in the long run. “People help construct these houses, and then it helps fund more houses, they will own.” COUP, is set up by all indigenous women, from different tribes…but have big hearts. 24 women, they also have a tenants’ union, to help relatives who have experienced homelessness, through no fault of their own.”

With the existing problems of rising rent and the extra folks moving into the Rapid City area due to the base, COUP may be the next great idea coming out to help the indigenous people find homes…and hope.

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