I think that the low income people that live in Seattle are fortunate. There are a lot of people can be counted on for support. That isn't true in South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Reservation. They live in the poorest county in the US. The average annual income is $6,400. I went there on a Habitat for Humanity team. While elsewhere in the US, the low-income families get a Habitat home, on the reservation, the people that can afford a Habitat home are considered to be the wealthy ones. Please let everyone know that it's important to help other communities as well as our local area. Per my donation request from Okiciyapi Tipi Habitat for Humanity in Eagle Butte, SD, on any given day there are at least 700 hundred people looking for housing, many of the families have as many as 20 people living in a two or threee bedroom home. Many families are living in sub-standard housing.
They do not have a higher income population that they can turn to for help in their area. Diane Sawyer did a special on the Pine Ridge Reservation and they are getting outside help. However, there are 7 reservations in South Dakota, of which, Pine Ridge is one. The other 6 are in just as desperate need. Please help people in the Northwest become aware of the need in South Dakota.
An example from my Habitat team was a women that had been a nurse during World War II. She was recently recognized by the US government. She's almost 90. When we got there, her light switches did not work. I had an electrican on my team. In about 1/2 of a day, they had light switches for her in the bedrooms, hallway, and bathroom. It was the first time in over 30 years that she had light switches that worked!
I was told before I went to South Dakota that I'd see poverty worse than I'd ever seen. But, what I really saw was pride, patriotism, and hope. Thank you!