SDHHC Releases 2025 Statewide Homeless Count Numbers
On Jan. 28, South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium (SDHHC), an affiliate of South Dakota Housing conducted its annual statewide Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count. The Count includes everybody staying in public and private shelters (including domestic violence shelters), transitional housing or motels paid for by an agency and unsheltered individuals who are staying in vehicles, on the streets or in places not meant for human habitation.
While the Point-in-Time Count is a “snapshot”, it provides a crucial source of annual data that can show characteristics of people who are experiencing homelessness. Data from the Count is used to measure homelessness on local, state, and national levels. Due to a variety of factors that can impact the PIT, numbers can change drastically from year to year. The process for CoCs to submit and verify this data with HUD has not yet begun; therefore, 2025’s numbers have not been accepted by HUD.
The results of the PIT are significantly affected by the availability of partners who can conduct these surveys in their communities. Isolating data by geographic regions other than Rapid City or Sioux Falls tends to give an incomplete picture of the state of homelessness in South Dakota. Rural regions of South Dakota are often undercounted because of a lack of service providers and partners to conduct surveys. With these count limitations, 1,431 people were identified.
Of the 1,431 people who were experiencing homelessness in South Dakota on Jan. 28:
843 men and boys were counted compared to 578 women and girls.
25% of respondents were in unsheltered situations on the day of the count, representing an all-time high of unsheltered homelessness (363 individuals)
8.8% of respondents were between the ages of 18-24, a decrease from 11% in 2024.
There were 37 veterans experiencing homelessness in 2025, an increase from 31 in 2024.
As in 2024, 38% of adult respondents were experiencing homelessness for the very first time. 53% of respondents had fewer than 4 instances of homelessness in the past three years. (compared to 70% in 2024)
25 Victim Service Providers from across the state participated in the 2025 PIT count and reported 254 clients fleeing domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault on the night of Jan. 28.
Additional information and numbers specific to Sioux Falls and Rapid City can be found at housingforthehomeless.org.
About SD Housing for the Homeless Consortium
In 2001, the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium was created to help unify the people who provide services to the homeless. Throughout the years this group has been able to identify gaps, create programs and services that have helped communities address homelessness and keep their citizens safe. Since its initiation the Consortium has received federal funding totaling over $39 million to provide development, operations and supportive services to a variety of homeless programs across the state.