Abuse victims lose housing options

Women fleeing abusive relationships can no longer find a roof and a bed at Mita Maske Ti Ki.

The Sioux Falls shelter, also called My Sister Friends' House, offered a safe place for domestic abuse victims, helping them get back on their feet and find independence.

Grant funding ran dry in April. The program moved to a different location, laid off staff and pared back its offerings. It stopped offering housing to women, but has maintained its presence in Sioux Falls with support groups and counseling services.

However, the program could be shuttered this fall without a fresh injection of funding.

“It was heartbreaking,” said Rosanna Schoneman, a former advocate who was laid off as part of the cuts. “Because I know that Sioux Falls really, really, really needs this shelter open.”

For about 15 years, My Sister Friends' House provided emergency and transitional housing for women escaping abuse. It depends on grants from the federal government, though organizers also welcome donations and volunteers.

Serving mostly Native Americans, the house was a temporary home for women fleeing abusive relationships on South Dakota reservations. It was also one of the few places in Sioux Falls where women could turn to for a place to stay if they were facing dangerous situations at home.

Unable to offer beds to women in need, My Sister Friends' House still offers provides support through its one remaining staffer. The nonprofit has a crisis line, counseling, support groups and criminal justice advocacy. It also offers referrals, guiding women to other local resources.

Hopes are pinned on a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Justice, said Lisa Heth, executive director of Wiconi Wawokiya Inc., the nonprofit that oversees the house. Organizers sent in a grant application in February for the federal government’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation program.

Donations are welcome, but unless the grant comes through the future looks uncertain, Heth said. Officials will hear back in the fall.

“That would put us at a serious risk of us not doing any more services,” Heth said. “If we don’t get that funding, I can’t continue to have one person there.”

Running the house costs about $12,000 a month with a full staff.

Based out of the Crow Creek Reservation in Fort Thompson, Wiconi Wawokia has relied on more than $1.7 million in federal funding since 2009 to cover those costs. Last year, however, My Sister Friends' House hit a roadblock when its most recent grant application was denied.

“It’s competitive,” Heth said. “Sometimes you can write the best darn grant, but I guess, too, it depends.”

My Sister Friends' House provided shelter to dozens of women and children every year before it was forced to eliminate the service.

Amy Carter is operations director of the Children’s Inn, another Sioux Falls nonprofit offering emergency housing for women and children.

“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of instances of domestic violence and assault and stalking,” Carter said.  “Any time there can be resources for those victims, that’s important.”

Heth is hopeful the money will come through, allowing My Sister Friends' House to continue meeting the needs of abuse victims from across the state. For now, women can still seek help by calling 605-731-1950.

“The thing is that we want people to know that Mita is still there and we’re not shut down,” Heth said. “We’re just waiting for funding to come in.”