Native‑led advocacy groups told lawmakers that Native Americans are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness in North Dakota and urged culturally appropriate strategies and pilot investment.

Lorraine Davis, founder and CEO of Native Inc., presented data from the Institute for Community Alliances showing Native people are overrepresented in unsheltered homelessness and incarceration relative to their share of the state population. She argued that culturally grounded services, family‑centered supports and traditional healing are central to sustainable outcomes and proposed a pilot run by Native Inc. serving urban tribal members with wraparound services including rapid rehousing, behavioral health, reentry supports and workforce development.

Committee members encouraged placing Native proposals into the interagency council’s statewide planning work and asked applicants to align pilot proposals with the governor’s council so the projects can be considered in the executive budget.