ILE serves Native American people in and around the Little Earth community in Minnesota. Little Earth is very special place: located in the Minneapolis urban industrial core, Little Earth is unique in that it is not a reservation but gives first preference to Native Americans—the only Section 8 rental assistance community of its kind in the United States. Home to members of 39 different Native tribes and about 1,500 residents, 50% of Little Earth residents are under the age of 21. The Native American population in Minnesota numbers 57,414 individuals, just 1% of the population.

Little Earth faces many significant historical challenges, including poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, absent parents, mental and other health issues, chronic school absence and drop-outs, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, crime, and generational trauma. About 98% of households earn a median income of $8,640—far below the national median of $70,784. In addition, about 47% of heads of household are unemployed. Many of these challenges are symptoms of larger issues, such as systemic trauma, access to resources (social services, health care, and educational services and opportunities), and consistent access to nutritionally high-quality food.

Many in Little Earth seek a different, brighter future. Various efforts have attempted over the years to connect this community with requisite resources. These efforts have failed due in large part to the impacts of generational trauma as well as structural, cultural, trust, and communication gaps between community members and sources of aid. 

We believe that every individual in the Little Earth community was created by God with inherent value and importance. As Biblical stewards of God’s creation, we seek to partner with the Little Earth community to break the cycle of generational trauma and unleash the God-given strengths and gifts of each individual to positively impact the world around them.