Homeless Advisory Board

What Poverty and Homelessness Looks Like in Sioux Falls…

On January 29, 2009, the Statewide Homeless Count was done identifying 1,189 homeless people in the State of South Dakota with 447 of those living right here in Minnehaha County. The Statewide numbers show an increase of 16% over the count done in September 2007, which had identified 1,026 homeless people – 648 residing in Minnehaha County. The number of homeless people in Minnehaha County declined by 201 people which is wonderful and can be attributed to the efforts made in this Community by concerned citizens, agencies and local government. A word of caution must also be given though as the numbers being compared occurred during two distinctly different times of the year (Winter and Fall). Winter numbers are usually lower as many people have sought alternative options rather than the outdoors. Fall is also known for a significant amount of movement as families settle in for the school year. It also is a one day point-in-time count, so if surveyors didn’t encounter an individual or family that day who is homeless, they were not included in the count.
Another form of homelessness can include those who live doubled-up. Doubled up means that people are living together – either related or non-related – out of economic necessity, not because they want to. Doubled-up numbers are much more common in states like South Dakota because of our more rural nature. It is also more likely in Sioux Falls because of our dwindling supply of affordable housing.
Thus far in the 2008-2009 school year, 1,010 students in the Sioux Falls School District have been identified as homeless at some point (from August to date), which is up from 820 students the previous year.
2009 Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of 4 is $22,050, but the Median Income in Sioux Falls for a family of 4 is $66,625.
In April 2009, 7,282 students or 36.1% of the total school population were on free or reduced meals. Elementary schools alone (when not averaged with the secondary school numbers) are at 40.8%. To qualify for free meals, a family must be below the federal poverty guidelines.
Sioux Falls unemployment rate for March 2009 is 5.4%. This is definitely below the national average but higher than it has been in years.
The Banquet served 3,157 MORE meals to children in 2007 and had continued growth in need in 2008.
SF Food Pantry experienced an increase in need in 2008 of 46%. 20,519 households were provided with a 5-day food supply. 2,186 of those households had never used the Pantry before.
Volunteers of America, Dakotas Bowden Youth Center averages 60 meals an evening.
Causes of homelessness are varied but can include domestic violence, mental health issues, catastrophic illness, unemployment, substance abuse, and a lack of affordable housing.
Housing is deemed affordable when it is about 30% of a person’s income.
Fair market rent (FMR) in 2009 for an efficiency unit in Sioux Falls is $501/month.
A two-bedroom apartment is $673 at FMR. A family member earning minimum wage of $7.25/hour would have to work 70 hours or more a week to be able to afford that apartment.
Often times the difference between being housed and being homeless is the support network that is available – both familial/friend and in the community – how it responds or has set up a safety net to prevent homelessness.
The Homeless Advisory Board endorses the nationwide concept of Housing First which is premised on the notion that housing is a basic human right, and as such should not be denied to anyone, even if they are abusing alcohol or other substances. There is no one standard of permanent supportive housing that is proven to work best with the homeless population. Each category of homelessness - chronic, family, dually-diagnosed, chemically dependent - requires creativity in service provision. What they do have in common include an apartment, case management, medical and mental health care in some capacity. Success is defined in a variety of ways but the three most decisive are: housing retention, harm reduction, and expense.
Safe Home, currently operated by Minnehaha County Human Services, is a Housing First program working with our chronically homeless, alcohol-addicted individuals who are residents of this Community. Efforts are underway to build a new facility that will meet the needs of the program participants, the staff, and the community as a whole. Safe Home, when compared with the original numbers that were collected in 2005 when the individuals were still homeless, but using massive amounts of community resources such as the jail, ER, and detox, has saved approximately $201,000 in its first year of operation from January to December, 2008.

Across the United States…

The average age of a homeless person in the United States is 7 (yes, 7).
The typical homeless family is a single, 20-year-old mother with two preschool children.
During the course of one year, over 1.35 million children across the United States are homeless.
Close to 700,000 people are homeless on any given night in America.
Children under the age of 8 are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population now comprising over 50%.
Statistically, 10% of any city’s homeless population can be considered chronically homeless.
More than 150 Housing First programs are in existence today with more being planned and constructed every day. Some effective models are in Seattle, WA, Minneapolis, MN, Duluth, MN, New York and Los Angeles. A new one is scheduled to break ground in Fargo, ND this May.

Board Information