South Dakota Housing Awards $2.18 Million in Additional Funding to Provide Shelter and Services to South Dakotans Experiencing Homelessness and Other Vulnerable Populations

South Dakota Housing’s Board of Commissioners today awarded nearly $2.2 million to assist South Dakotans who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness or fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking, by financing the development of non-congregate shelters and providing financial assistance for support services. The $2.18 million dollars in HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funding is in addition to the previously announced, competitively awarded $5.7 million.

HOME-ARP is one-time funding, which was appropriated under the HOME Program through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The primary purpose of HOME-ARP is to provide funding to assist those who are homeless and other vulnerable populations through capital investment for affordable rental housing, non-congregate shelter and supportive services.

Below is information regarding funded recipients:

Development name: House of Hope Emergency Shelter
Development location: Pierre
Developer: Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center
Additional HOME-ARP funds approved: $399,605
Development summary: The Board of Commissioners approved $399,605 in additional funds for the new construction of a two-story, non-congregate shelter containing 13 residential units, with a shared living and kitchen area. Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking.

Development name: RCDVC NCS Shelter Expansion
Development location: Yankton
Developer: River City Domestic Violence Center (RCDVC)
Additional HOME-ARP funds: $184,137
Development summary: The Board of Commissioners approved $184,137 in additional funds for the expansion of the existing one-story, non-congregate shelter. The expansion will include four residential units, with shared living and kitchen area and office space. Each residential unit will have a private bath and kitchenette. RCDVC serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and child abuse.

Development name: Safe Place Building a Safe Future
Development location: Mitchell
Developer: Mitchell Area Safehouse dba Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota
Additional HOME-ARP funds: $596,195
Development summary: The Board of Commissioners approved $596,195 in additional funds for the new construction of two-story, non-congregate shelter containing eight residential units with shared living and kitchen areas. Safe Place serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking.

Development name: Watertown Cares
Development location: Watertown
Developer: Watertown Cares (to be formed)
Additional HOME-ARP funds: $86,000
Development summary: The Board of Commissioners approved $86,000 in additional funds for the acquisition and rehab of an existing facility to transform the ten short-term rental units into eight non-congregate shelter units, each equipped with their own bathroom and kitchenette. The facility will serve homeless families and individuals.

Development name: Watertown Cares Supportive Services
Development location: Watertown
Developer: Watertown Cares (to be formed)
Additional HOME-ARP funds: $225,500
Development summary: The Board of Commissioners approved $225,500 in additional funding for case management and direct financial assistance, such as rental/utility deposits, rental arrears, rental/utility assistance and application fees for clients.

Development name: Our Unsheltered Relatives Housing Opportunities Maintained Equitably (OUR HOME)
Development location: Scattered Sites
Developer: Wambli Ska Okolakiciye (oh – koh – lah – kee – chee – yea)
HOME-ARP funds: $691,970
Development summary: Funding for case management and direct financial assistance, such as rental/utility deposits, rental arrears, rental/utility assistance and application fees for clients. The OUR HOME program is a collaboration between Wambli Ska, The Circle, and Journey On to advance the programming provided by the three organization’s Youth Homeless Demonstration Program funding. Journey On provides street outreach services while Wambli Ska and The Circle operate drop-in centers for youth and young adults.

For more information on the HOME-ARP program, please contact Chas Olson, at 605.773.3181.

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About South Dakota Housing
South Dakota Housing Development Authority was created by the South Dakota Legislature in 1973 with a stated mission to provide opportunities for quality, affordable housing for South Dakotans. South Dakota Housing is a self-supporting, nonprofit entity known for our commitment for providing innovative financing solutions to create and preserve affordable housing. South Dakota Housing utilizes housing bonds, tax credits, and other federal and state resources to fund housing programs which provide mortgage and downpayment assistance, housing construction and rehabilitation, homelessness prevention, rental assistance, and educational opportunities.

For more information:
Lorraine Polak, Executive Director, SD Housing, 605.773.3181