South Dakota housing programs provide services for low-income and homeless residents.
Individuals and families can face housing crises due to economic downturns, foreclosure, unemployment or eviction. South Dakota residents can receive housing assistance through government agencies, tribal authorities and nonprofit organizations. Assistance programs can help South Dakotans obtain affordable apartments, find emergency shelter, make home repairs or fund down payments to purchase a home. Certain housing assistance agencies operate throughout South Dakota, while others only offer services on a local or regional basis.
South Dakota Housing Development Authority
The South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA), a state agency, helps homebuyers purchase homes and administers programs offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SDHDA administers HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program, known as the Section 8 program, which helps senior citizens, the disabled and low-income households afford rental housing. The voucher program provides families with rental subsidies, which they can use to rent apartments, houses or townhouses on the private market. SDHDA also offers two down-payment assistance programs to help homebuyers purchase a house. The programs provide loans of up to 5 percent of a home's purchase price, which homebuyers can apply to down payments and closing costs.
Community Action Agencies
Community action agencies located throughout South Dakota offer affordable housing and services to help residents weatherize or rehabilitate their homes. The Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program (NESDCAP) in Sisseton owns apartments in Veblen and Milbank and manages properties in Wilmot, Doland, Tulare, Eden and Pierpont. Properties owned and managed by NESDCAP are eligible for rent subsidies offered by the USDA Office of Rural Development. The Rural Office of Community Services in Lake Andes provides weatherization services for low-income families, including door repair, insulation installation, weather-stripping replacement and window repair. Western South Dakota Community Action in Rapid City helps homeowners with rehabilitation needs, such as window, roof and electrical repairs.
Tribal Housing Authorities
Members of South Dakota Indian tribes can obtain housing services through tribal housing authorities, including the Yankton Sioux Housing Authority in Wagner, Crow Creek Housing Authority in Fort Thompson and Lower Brule Housing Authority in Lower Brule. The Lower Brule Housing Authority develops housing for low-income tribal members and manages more than 220 rental homes.
Private Organizations
Private organizations in South Dakota offer services to help homebuyers purchase a home and homeless individuals and families obtain the services they need. The South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium encompasses religious organizations, service providers and county and city governments throughout South Dakota. The consortium provides referrals for homeless families and individuals who need food, emergency shelter or help paying rent, security deposits or utility bills. Homes Are Possible, Inc., (HAPI) in Aberdeen provides grants to homeowners who need housing improvements or repairs. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines provides the funding, and qualified homeowners can receive grants up to $5,000, as of March 2011.
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