Sioux Falls Sees Decline in Homelessness for First Time in 5 Years

Recent Point-in-Time count shows 605 individuals experiencing homelessness, a 3% drop from 2025.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:49pm

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The number of homeless individuals in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has dropped for the first time in five years, according to the latest Point-in-Time (PIT) count. The 2026 PIT count recorded 605 people experiencing homelessness, including 562 in sheltered settings and 43 unsheltered, reflecting a 3% decrease from the 625 individuals counted in 2025.

Why it matters

This decline in homelessness is notable given Sioux Falls' continued population growth over the same period, suggesting the community's efforts to address the issue are starting to have an impact. However, the city still faces significant challenges, with over 100 individuals identified as having substance use disorders and nearly 100 adults reported as having serious mental illnesses.

The details

The 2026 PIT count found that of the 605 individuals experiencing homelessness, 156 were adults aged 35-44, 131 were adults aged 45-54, and 90 were children under 18. The count also identified 27 homeless veterans. Sheltered counts rose from 387 in 2022 to 565 in 2025, before dropping to 562 in 2026, while unsheltered numbers fluctuated from 20 in 2022 to 60 in 2025 before decreasing to 43 in 2026.

The 2026 Point-in-Time count was conducted in late January.
The PIT count is an annual survey of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness.