Street-level services ramp up as staffing issues force partial short-term shelter closure

The unseasonably warm spring has brought more visibility for individuals on the streets, whether they lack housing or are there to solicit money or loiter.

“Nothing is trending downward,” said Michelle Treasure, homeless service coordinator for the city of Sioux Falls. “Our numbers seem like they’re pretty normal for this time of year; however, we are seeing a lot of people from out of state again already.”

The individuals seen in Sioux Falls shelters appear to be coming to the city on their own and not being referred here by another municipality, she said.

“Between the two shelters (Union Gospel Mission and Bishop Dudley Hospitality House), we’ve got half the country (represented) on the list,” Treasure said.

People have come from as far as Washington, California and Georgia, and from across South Dakota, she said.

“My goal is to continue to keep a good pulse on shelter capacity and be a support to them.”

Staffing issues this week forced the Union Gospel Mission to close its Family Center, according to an email sent to other service providers. Families housed in the Family Center are transitioning to the Women’s Center, which now is at capacity, and all transitional-aged youth were relocated temporarily to the Men’s Center.

The shelter is “actively interviewing multiple promising candidates” and foresees the closure lasting three to four weeks, the email said.

As warmer weather approaches, there soon will be even more feet on the streets of downtown Sioux Falls and beyond.

For the second year, the city of Sioux Falls has contracted with South Dakota Urban Indian Health to provide street-level services, including responding to calls considered low risk or nonemergency.

Working in teams of two, their service area spans from Minnesota to Cleveland avenues and from Russell to 14th streets.

“We are able to see everyone regardless of their background and ability to pay,” said Monica Bailey, program manager for South Dakota Urban Indian Health.

“We hope to build relationships with all relatives by providing a safe space for them where they don’t feel judged,” she said.

The city  is “a great partner,” she added, contracting with SDUIH for at least 40 hours of active street outreach weekly. That includes walking the streets, responding to calls and driving people to appointments. Team members can be identified by their teal shirts and have a branded vehicle.

“We provide an alternative to calling the police, and we aim to connect people to existing social services, community services, and we work with other partner organizations to remind them of their appointments, and we transport them when we’re able to,” Bailey said.

Once school dismisses, several police officers will patrol the area, including on foot. Southeastern Behavioral Health’s mobile crisis team also is responding downtown as is Midwest Street Medicine and representatives from Minnehaha County and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. All co-responders will be meeting at the end of the month to go through what’s occurring downtown, and the entities can collaborate.

“We all play a part in helping those experiencing homelessness,” Treasure said. “This work is not able to be done in silos. The needs are very complex. The people being supported are among some of the hardest individuals to house, to help.”

Almost every success story “has involved some type of collaboration,” she said.

That includes businesses, some of which have started to curtail the sale of certain alcohol. It’s also why the city is hoping to raise public awareness around giving cash to those asking for it.

“Some of the data does support that blood-alcohol levels are on a slight increase, which is why it is so important for people to understand that giving cash and selling bottom-shelf liquor is not helpful,” Treasure said.

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