Homelessness Continues to Drop In South Dakota

Here’s something we don't hear nearly enough anymore, a bit of genuinely encouraging news.

New data from the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium shows that homelessness across the state is trending in the right direction. According to the latest 2026 Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Housing Inventory Count, the number of people experiencing homelessness has dropped compared to the past two years.

So, what does that look like in real numbers?

According to Dakota News Now, in 2026, a total of 1,154 people identified as homeless across South Dakota. That’s a decrease from previous counts, signaling progress for communities from Sioux Falls to Rapid City and beyond.

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Breaking it down further, the report found that 675 men and boys and 479 women and girls were experiencing homelessness. Another positive sign: the number of people without any shelter dipped to 22%, down from 25% in 2025.

Young adults are also seeing slight improvements. Those between the ages of 18 and 24 made up 8.6% of the homeless population—down from 8.8% last year and a notable drop from 11% in 2024.

One of the most encouraging stats? Veteran homelessness continues to fall. In 2026, just 26 veterans were counted as homeless statewide, the lowest number recorded since 2009.

26 is still a very heartbreaking number, but it is great to see the veteran homelessness numbers continue to drop in the state.

Here in the Sioux Empire, efforts like the Coordinated Entry System (CES) are playing a key role, helping connect people in need with housing resources and support services. Still, experts caution that rural areas across South Dakota may be undercounted due to limited outreach.

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If you or someone you know in Sioux Falls or throughout the state needs housing assistance, resources are available through local and statewide programs. More information on how to get help can be found here.