Statewide Homeless Count to be Conducted in January
On Jan. 27, 2026, the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium (SDHHC), an affiliate of South Dakota Housing, will hold its annual statewide point-in-time (PIT) homeless count. The PIT Count is a national, one-day survey that estimates the number of people experiencing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence.
The PIT provides important yearly data about people who are homeless. This information is used to measure homelessness at the local, state and national levels. PIT Count data helps policymakers and communities track progress, find gaps in services, raise public awareness and improve planning.
The PIT Count is the main tool used to show unmet need in our communities. Volunteers across the state help SDHHC conduct the count. To improve accuracy, SDHHC divides the state into six count areas. Local coordinators in each area work with agencies and volunteers to complete the count.
Coordinators and their areas are listed below. We urge communities and projects to contact their local coordinator to inquire as to how they can assist. Participation is encouraged for communities and organizations that want to apply for homeless response grants in the future. Federally funded homeless programs are required to take part in the PIT.
City of Sioux Falls; Suzy Smith, suzanne.smith@augie.edu, Augustana Research Institute, or 605-274-5010
Rapid City & Region 1; Bennet, Butte, Corson, Custer, Dewey, Fall River, Jackson, Haakon, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, Ziebach, Oglala Lakota counties. Amy Richie, amy.richie@voanr.org, Volunteers of America-Northern Rockies (VOA-NR)
Region 2; Beadle, Brown, Campbell, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Marshall, McPherson, Potter, Roberts, Spink, Stanley, Sully, Walworth counties. Olivia DeBoer, olivia@growsd.org, Grow South Dakota
Region 3; Aurora, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Lyman, Mellette, Sanborn, Todd, Tripp, Union, Yankton, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jerauld, Jones counties. Karli Marts, kmarts@rocsinc.org, Rural Office of Community Services (ROCS)
Region 4; Minnehaha, Grant, Deuel, Codington, Hamlin, Clark, Kingsbury, Brookings, Miner, Lake, Lincoln, Moody, McCook, Turner counties. Jamie Kessler, jkessler@interlakescap.com, Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership (ICAP)
Veteran Affairs; (VA) staff will collect information for VA programs.
West River contact Andrew Havens, andrew.havens@va.gov, 605-490-9705
East River contact Kristy Anderson, Kristy.Anderson438@va.gov, 605-323-8546
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.
For more information:
Joseph Tielke, Continuum of Care Administrator, SD Housing, 605.773.5160, joseph@sdhda.org