SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The challenge of how to help people battling homelessness took center stage Thursday night in downtown Sioux Falls, where government leaders addressed the topic at a forum. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken told the audience the event was focusing on the government’s role in addressing homelessness.
“We have this tremendous pressure to do something, do something, do something,” TenHaken said. “But we’re one slice of the pie. So that’s not a ‘woe is me,’ but that is a call for, collaboration is so key in this. I cannot stress that enough.”
A graphic on display at the forum highlighted different components, from the city to Minnehaha County to nonprofits to businesses and the public. And TenHaken is blunt in how he assesses cooperation at the moment.
“There is a huge lack of collaboration in this space,” TenHaken said. “Don’t know how else to say it. And until that gets figured out, we are not going to hit any singles, and that has to get figured out. There has to be better collaboration with those pieces of the pie.”
Larissa Deedrich, executive director of the Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission, Minnehaha County Commissioner Dean Karsky and state Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff were alongside TenHaken on stage. Deedrich is hoping for a change in how people think about affordable housing, a topic closely linked to homelessness.
“I would really honestly just like to say to those people who are saying ‘not in my backyard’ is let’s stop thinking about the stigma of affordable housing,” Deedrich said. “The folks who are moving into these units are your colleagues. They’re your coworkers. They’re already your neighbors.”
Near the forum’s conclusion, TenHaken expressed hope for a future event, and how it might look drew applause from the audience.
“We should do this again and get the bureaucrats off the stage, and let’s have the providers up here next time,” TenHaken said, with the gathered crowd clapping in response.
Both the Union Gospel Mission and Bishop Dudley Hospitality House provide shelter in Sioux Falls to people experiencing homelessness. Leadership for each was present at Thursday’s event.
According to the nonprofit South Dakota Housing, Sioux Falls had 610 people who were experiencing homelessness in late January of 2024; another count comes Jan. 28.