SDHHC Announces Decline in Homeless Individuals Even with Increase in Number of Counties Reporting

PIERRE, S.D. – December 16, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The 2013 Point in Time Homeless Count revealed that 1,155 individuals are homeless in South Dakota. This number represents a slight reduction from the 2012 count of 1,166 individuals. Forty percent were men, 32 percent were women and 28 percent were children.

While the reduction in the number of homeless counted represents less than a percent, 52 of the 66 counties participated making it the most statewide coverage since the inception of the homeless count in 2001.

The Point in Time Homeless Count was conducted Sept. 24, 2013, by the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium (SDHHC) in collaboration with community agencies and homeless service providers. The statewide, one-day count was a snapshot of people experiencing homelessness.

To further define the snapshot of homelessness, 600 count participants were surveyed. Of those surveyed 70 percent were individuals, 20 percent were single parent families, five percent were married couples with no children and five percent were married couples with children. Seventeen percent were veterans.

In 2013, various organizations within South Dakota received over $2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide funding for housing assistance, operating costs and case management to help reduce those barriers that lead to homelessness.

A few statistics from the 2013 count:

139 adults and 17 children were sleeping outside the night of the count; 47 adults and 20 children were sleeping in their vehicles; 243 adults and 153 children were sleeping in an emergency shelter; 186 adults and 103 children were sleeping in a transitional housing program; and 82 adults and 57 children were sleeping in a motel paid for by a non-profit
The top three reasons for homelessness are inability to pay rent and security deposits, unemployment or lost jobs and substance abuse
The highest percentage of homeless were in the 26-35 age range
Of those stating they have monthly income, 43 percent had full time employment and 35 percent had part time employment

For more detailed results, please see our website at www.housingforthehomeless.org

The South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium was created in 2001 to help unify the people who provide services to the homeless. Throughout the years the Consortium has identified gaps and created programs and services that make it easier for people to make it on their own. Since its initiation, the Consortium has received federal funding totaling of around $8 million to provide development, operations and supportive services to a variety of homeless programs across the state

Contact:
Lisa Bondy, SDHHC Coordinator, 605.773.3445