Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Cherokee Nation recently donated $5,000 to Hope House of Cherokee County, the only emergency shelter for homeless families in Adair, Cherokee, Wagoner and Sequoyah counties.

Hope House, a nonprofit agency, works closely with Cherokee Nation Housing Authority to support homeless Cherokees while they wait for suitable housing to become available. The organization’s mission is to eliminate homelessness by providing emergency shelter and to advocate for the homeless by highlighting the issues that cause homelessness in the four-county area.

“I think Cherokee Nation’s being able to donate to help defray expenses to help homeless Cherokees waiting for permanent housing is great. Cherokees have always helped their own, and this donation is an example of that,” said Bill John Baker, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for District 1, where Hope House is located. “I would encourage anybody and everybody to support Hope House any way they can.”

Hope House serves two and one parent families and their children. Among the numerous services Hope House offers are emergency shelter; information and referral services for food, clothing and medical needs; child care assistance; family skills training; educational testing and referral services to area training and literacy organizations; referrals to literacy organizations; and transportation and prevention services and case management. Hope House’s primary goal is to return homeless families to self-sufficiency and independence.

With the downturn in the regional economy, many Cherokee citizens return to the area when they lose their jobs out of state. In addition to job loss, other factors that cause homelessness, especially in rural areas, are physical or mental illness, house fires and divorce.

“We are very grateful for this donation from Cherokee Nation and to Bill John Baker and Audra Smoke-Connor for considering us for this funding. This is the second year we have received funding from Cherokee Nation, and we depend of this type of donation to keep us afloat,” said Laura Garner, director of Hope House. “Many individuals will benefit from this donation because we can now house more individuals as they wait for permanent housing through the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority.”

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org