For Immediate Release (August 1st 2006)
South Dakota Housing Development Authority
For More Information: Mark Lauseng, 773-3181
South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium to
Conduct Statewide Homeless Count
(Pierre) –. The South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium is conducting a one-day survey to count the number of homeless families and individuals throughout South Dakota on August 22, 2006.
“This count will be coordinated statewide to gather information to help document the causes and length of homelessness throughout South Dakota,” says Vona Johnson, Coordinator for the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium. “We are relying on volunteers and service agencies throughout the state to help give an accurate picture of the problem. We are especially counting on service providers and law enforcement agencies on the Indian Reservations and in the rural areas of the state to let us know about people who do not have a regular nighttime residence in their communities.”
The state will be broken down into three geographical areas according to counties where services are provided. Goodwill Industries in Sioux Falls will be taking the lead roll in conducting the survey for the eastern part of the state. Black Hills Region Homeless Coalition will handle the Rapid City area. The South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) in Pierre will be the contact for the remaining areas of the state.
South Dakota held a previous homeless count in January 2005. The number of people that were living either on the street or in shelters the day of the count was 1029. “We are anxious to see how much that number will change in the summertime when we expect there will be fewer people doubled up with family and friends and more living unsheltered,” says Johnson.
The Housing for the Homeless Consortium was created in 2001 to unite all who work to provide service for the homeless. The primary focus of the group is to identify gaps and programs and services that make it difficult for people to make it on their own. Since its inception, the statewide consortium has received grants totaling $6.5 million to provide development, operating, and supportive service funding to a variety of homeless programs across the state.
Reducing the number of homeless individuals is a national and state priority. By combining the results from this count with a plan of action, the Housing for the Homeless Consortium can assist its members in seeking the appropriate changes needed to address these problems. The Consortium encourages anyone who is interested in participating in this effort to please contact: Betty Durfee, 605-731-1932 or durfeeb@goodwillscia.com; Barb Garcia, 605-394-4181 or Barbara.Garcia@rcgov.org; or Lisa Bondy, SDHDA, 605-773-3445, lisab@sdhda.org.
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