The Sagatay program, by Na-Me-Res (Native Men’s Residence) is an Indigenous-led model that helps Indigenous men rebuild their lives in community after incarceration. A new evaluation shows the model works, the need for it is urgent and well-documented, and it is ready to scale. What’s missing is the funding and the political will to make that happen.
What You’ll Find on This Page
Research and resources designed to help those working with Indigenous men leaving incarceration, homeless-serving organizations, policy-makers and funders understand Sagatay, its impact and what is needed to scale the model — including the evidence, participant stories, policy recommendations and investment case.
The resources are organized around four key areas:
- About Sagatay
- Sagatay Impact Data at a Glance
- The Research & Evidence on Sagatay
- Policy & Funding Resources for Sagatay
About Sagatay
Sagatay Impact Data at a Glance
- The need for Sagatay is significant: 60% of Indigenous men are convicted again within five years of release, and Indigenous people represent 33% of people in federal custody.
- Sagatay delivers strong outcomes: All former participants interviewed were stably housed months to more than two years after the program, and 78% of men served since 2012 were classified as high-risk, a group most programs turn away.
- Culturally grounded reintegration is critical to the program’s success: Across studies, culturally relevant programming is associated with 39% recidivism vs. 48% for generic programming.
- Sagatay offers a strong return on investment: a bed costs about $71,066 a year, compared with $149,650 for federal incarceration, and it keeps men in community rather than cycling back into custody.
“They’ve helped me so much. They make you feel like you’re human…there’s nothing like Sagatay anywhere…
I got my first aid, CPR and safe-food handling…things that prepare you for work…I have my mental health counselor’s email and phone numbers and so if I’m going through something, I can reach out. And even after I graduated from the program, I’ve had access to this support, and it has really helped.” – Lyall
The Research & Evidence Behind Sagatay
- Research Summary: Sagatay’s Impact
- Evaluation Report: Sagatay Program Evaluation
- Webinar Recording: The Sagatay Program Model: How to Stop the Incarceration-to-Homelessness Pipeline
- Blog: Introduction to Sagatay: Sagatay Creates a New Beginning for Indigenous Men Leaving Incarceration
- Blog: Success Stories from Sagatay
Scaling & Investing in Sagatay
- Policy Brief: Investing in Sagatay
- Funders Brief: Sagatay: A Proven Indigenous-Led Model Ready to Scale
- Blog: Why Isn’t Sagatay Being Funded to Scale?
