By Carol Hiltner | President, Altai Mir University
Since we began building homes for Lakota families years ago, Joe Fast Horse has been on the building sites, working hard as a volunteer. And through the internet, he has educated himself on all aspects of off-the-grid, low-cost, healthy housing.
However, Joe and his family still live in dangerously mold-infested government housing on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Joe and Lena dream of building an eco-sustainable children's safe house and home. They currently have nine children in their home; five are by birth and four by circumstance. Additionally, they work with Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyape (LOWO) as an emergency placement home for children.
This summer, we got started on this safe house -- in other words, the foundation for just the central section of this house. Even though most of the building materials are local (read "free"), funds are needed for doors, windows, beams, and generator fuel.
In most of the US, food, shelter, and life's necessities are readily available. Not in Pine Ridge -- "America's 3rd World Country." Everything is used and reused. Please sign up for a monthly donation today. Thank you for caring.
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