In South Dakota, there are various rental assistance options designed to help low- to moderate-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities secure stable housing. These programs are largely administered through state housing agencies, local public housing authorities, and regional non-profit organizations.
Statewide Rental & Deposit Programs
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
The Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) in South Dakota helps low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities access safe and sanitary housing within the private market. Because these vouchers are administered locally by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), the availability of applications and wait times vary by city or county.
Where to Apply in South Dakota
Since there is no single statewide waiting list, you must submit your application directly to the housing authority that serves your specific area.
South Dakota Housing (SD Housing): Manages a broad voucher program that covers several counties, including many rural areas, small towns, and specific counties across the state that participate in the program.
Municipal Housing Authorities: Larger cities manage their own independent programs, each with its own local waiting list:
Sioux Falls: Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission
Rapid City: Pennington County Housing & Redevelopment Commission
Aberdeen: Aberdeen Housing Authority
Huron: Huron Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Mitchell: Mitchell Housing & Redevelopment Commission
Security Deposit Assistance Program (SDAP)
The Security Deposit Assistance Program (SDAP) provides emergency funds to cover the initial payment required when signing a lease agreement. Funded through the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program and administered by South Dakota Housing, the program aims to prevent homelessness, assist families in transitioning to permanent housing, or help low-income households secure more affordable rental housing.
How to Apply (Not a Direct Application)
It is not possible to apply for these funds directly through South Dakota Housing. Instead, SD Housing distributes resources to local non-profit organizations and Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), which process applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
To submit an application, you must contact one of the participating agencies that serves your city or county.
| Location / Region | Participating Local Agency |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen Area | Aberdeen Housing Authority |
| Brookings Area | Brookings Housing Authority |
| Huron Area | Huron Housing & Redevelopment Authority |
| Madison / East Central SD | Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership (ICAP) |
| Mitchell / Yankton / Pierre | Municipal Housing Authorities & Local Non-Profits (e.g., Pathways Shelter) |
| Mobridge Area | Mobridge Housing Authority |
| Rapid City / Western SD | Western Resources for Independent Living |
Rental Assistance Program (Section 811)
The Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) program provides subsidized housing specifically for extremely low-income individuals with disabilities who require long-term community-based support services.
How to Apply via Referral
You cannot apply directly to South Dakota Housing or to individual property owners for access to units under the Section 811 PRA program. Admission is handled exclusively through a centralized referral system, managed by state departments of health and human services.
Work with a case manager: You must be referred by a qualified case manager, service coordinator, or healthcare professional affiliated with the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) or the Department of Human Services (DHS).
Enrollment in the centralized waiting list: Your provider will verify your disability status, confirm that you have an active community support plan, and submit your application to the official South Dakota Housing Section 811 program waiting list.
Assignment: When a participating unit becomes available in your preferred area, you will be contacted to complete the standard evaluation process required by the property owner for the signing of a lease agreement.
Local Housing and Community Action Programs
Community Action Programs
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are local non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting poverty and helping low-income individuals achieve self-sufficiency. In South Dakota, these agencies offer a wide range of local resources, including emergency rent assistance, help with utility payments, case management, and financial counseling. [1, 2]
Since South Dakota does not have a single, centralized agency, these programs are organized by geographic region.
Find your regional Community Action Agency
Western SD Community Action Agency: Serves the western half of the state, including the Black Hills region. It offers emergency support, a thrift store, and assistance with utility payments. Location: 1844 Lombardy Dr, Rapid City, SD 57703
Phone: (605) 348-1460 [1, 2]
Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership (ICAP): Serves an area covering 14 counties in east-central South Dakota. ICAP administers the Security Deposit Assistance Program (SDAP), along with local housing stabilization initiatives. Central Office: 200 Center St W, Madison, SD 57042
Sioux Falls Office: 505 N Western Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Watertown Office: 7 8th Ave SE, Watertown, SD 57201
Brookings Office: 415 8th St S, Brookings, SD 57006 [1, 2]
GROW South Dakota: Primarily covers northeastern South Dakota and specializes largely in housing programs, mortgage lending services, technical assistance for small businesses, and community development.
Location: 104 Ash St E, Sisseton, SD 57262
Phone: (605) 698-7654 [1, 2, 3]
Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)
The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program is a federally funded initiative administered by South Dakota Housing. It is designed for individuals and families facing an immediate housing crisis, providing critical financial support to prevent evictions or to rapidly rehouse those currently experiencing homelessness.
Because ESG program funds are distributed directly through non-profit organizations and regional shelters, a specific intake process must be followed to access these grants.
Key Regional ESG Program Providers
Pathways Shelter for the Homeless: Manages direct ESG program funding for rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention, serving families and individuals living alone in southeastern South Dakota.
Location: 412 E 4th St, Yankton, SD 57078
Phone: (605) 665-8994 [1]
Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota: Provides housing relocation services, stabilization, and short- or medium-term rental assistance, specifically for individuals fleeing domestic crises or experiencing immediate homelessness.
Location: 1600 N Kimball St, Mitchell, SD 57301
Phone: (605) 996-2765 [1, 2, 3]
Helpline Center: Serves as a primary intake partner and information hub, coordinating the “Coordinated Entry” workflow in the Sioux Falls metropolitan area and throughout the state of South Dakota. Location: 3813 S Kiwanis Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Phone: Dial 211 [1, 2]
County Poor Relief
“County Poor Relief” serves as the financial safety net of last resort in South Dakota. Under state law, each county commission is required to provide emergency assistance to “poor or indigent” residents who have exhausted all other state, federal, or non-profit resources.
Because each county manages its own budget, specific rules, available funding, and application processes vary significantly across the state.
What can County Poor Relief cover?
The program is strictly limited to covering basic emergency needs to prevent homelessness or situations involving immediate danger. It may assist with:
Emergency rent: Direct payments to a landlord to halt an ongoing eviction process. Emergency utility assistance: Payments intended to prevent the disconnection of essential basic services (electricity, gas, or water).
Emergency medical expenses: Payment for vital medications or necessary medical bills for individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid.
Burial expenses: Basic funeral and burial costs for residents who pass away without the financial means or family support to cover these expenses.
How to Apply
You must submit your application directly through your county’s administrative office. You will need to provide an eviction or utility shut-off notice, proof of income, bank statements, and copies of denial notices from other charitable organizations in the region.
Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls): Managed by the Minnehaha County Human Services Department.
Pennington County (Rapid City): Managed by the Pennington County Health & Human Services Department.
Rural counties: In smaller counties (such as Beadle, Codington, or Brown), you generally must apply directly through the County Auditor’s Office or request to have your case added to the agenda for the next meeting of the County Board of Commissioners.
Utility and Energy Assistance
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)—known in the state as LIEAP—helps low-income households in South Dakota manage high home heating costs. Administered by the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS), the program makes direct payments to utility companies and fuel providers to help cover costs incurred during the coldest months of the year. You may submit your application online via the South Dakota Citizen Services Portal, or send printed documentation by mail to:
Office of Energy Assistance
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP)
The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) serves as the emergency component of South Dakota’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). While the standard LIEAP program provides seasonal subsidies for utility bills, ECIP acts as an immediate response mechanism for critical situations—such as a sudden utility shutoff, an eviction related to unpaid utility bills, or a heating system failure during hazardous weather conditions.
Housing Assistance (SD Cares)
The specialized COVID-19 relief program (Emergency Rental Assistance) has officially closed, having successfully distributed more than $83 million across the state. For future inquiries regarding general housing assistance, please contact South Dakota Housing or call 211 to reach the Helpline Center.
