Establish a new program to help victims with transitional housing for them and their pets and support animals.

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska (PTN) is a federally-recognized Indian Tribe with a 15-county service delivery area covering parts of Eastern Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa. Headquartered in Niobrara, Nebraska, PTN has four additional satellite locations in Norfolk, Lincoln, and Omaha, Nebraska and Sioux City, Iowa, to meet the needs of clients over the 11,647 square mile service delivery area. PTN has identified the need for enhanced services in the area of securing safe and permanent housing solutions for victims of domestic violence and their companion animals. These needs are based on local, state, and national data showing that American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals are at higher risk for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. National data outlines that those fleeing domestic violence are at highest risk for harm and also provides statistics showing that well over half of the survivors with pets remain in the abusive situation in order to not leave the pet behind with the abuser. The Ponca Tribe will continue to provide advocacy to domestic violence survivors with an increased effort to reach those victims with companion animals. Community engagement events will take place in the forms project awareness campaigns as well as quarterly education activities that will be held to educate staff, members, communities, and service providers to inform culturally appropriate approaches to addressing the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking among Native American persons. To implement this project, the Ponca Tribe will utilize two positions funded under another federal source to conduct training and outreach activities to ensure community partners, stakeholders, and members are aware of the domestic violence services and programming available through the Ponca Tribe. The training and outreach staff will coordinate with the community on training topics, ensuring materials are present for learning and education, and will provide brochures describing the services available. The domestic violence staff will work with survivors and their companion animals to ensure safe and permanent homes free from abuse. Funding will be utilized to ensure survivors and their companion animals have safe spaces free from abuse for a period of up to 24 months. All Native American survivors residing within the Ponca Service Delivery Area and enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are eligible for assistance through the domestic violence program staff. The Ponca Tribe proposes a Small Award Project through Purpose Area 3.