"In May, the Emmonak Women’s Shelter – one of only two shelters in western Alaska and the only shelter located in a native village – was on the verge of closing its doors. Plagued by budget shortfalls, its funding for the year was nearly gone before the summer even began. On July 2, After working with Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Bureau of Indian Affairs provided the shelter with $50,000 in emergency funding.

“We just received word from our Senator Murkowksi that $50,000 is going to be sent to the tribe and the tribe is going to write a check for that amount to the Emmonak Women’s Shelter,” said Lynn Hootch.

Hootch is the former shelter director who now works with the Yupik Women’s Coalition in Emmonak. Still involved with the shelter, Hootch says its monthly costs range from $10,000 to $13,000. That includes keeping advocates on the phone 24 hours a day, and housing women and children for weeks at a time. After fearing closure just months ago, Hootch says the $50,000 will now keep the shelter open and staffed for the rest of the summer."

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Emmonak Women’s Shelter receives emergency funding (KNOM 7/3)