2026 Point-in-Time Count Shows Decline in Homelessness in Sioux Falls

Published on March 11, 2026

A total of 605 individuals experiencing homelessness were recorded during the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) count in Sioux Falls. The count identified 562 people in sheltered settings and 43 individuals living unsheltered within city limits. The 2026 numbers reflect a decrease from the 2025 count, which documented 625 people experiencing homelessness, including 565 sheltered and 60 unsheltered.

The 2026 PIT count marks the first decrease in homelessness in Sioux Falls in five years. PIT totals have held stable since 2024, which is notable given the city’s continued population growth during the same period. Sheltered counts rose from 387 people in 2022 to 465 in 2023 and 573 in 2024, before dropping slightly to 565 in 2025. Unsheltered numbers also fluctuated, beginning at 20 people in 2022, rising to 25 in 2023, 37 in 2024 and 60 in 2025, before decreasing to 43 in 2026.

“The PIT count gives us a clear and consistent view of homelessness in Sioux Falls,” said Michelle Treasure, the city’s homelessness services coordinator. “By surveying people on the same night, we’re able to better understand who is experiencing homelessness, where they are staying and what support they need. This information guides local planning and helps us target resources so individuals and families can move toward long‑term stability.”

The PIT count is an annual survey of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness conducted on a single night during the last 10 days of January. Through the Continuums of Care (CoC) program, HUD requires volunteers to count individuals staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing and safe havens every year. Each count is planned, coordinated and carried out locally by the CoC. The CoC program is designed to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness, providing services that support their transition into transitional and permanent housing, with the goal of achieving long-term stability.

Federal guidelines require all CoC programs to collect PIT count data in late January, ensuring a consistent, nationally comparable snapshot of homelessness. The timing also aligns with a point in the month when many people have exhausted public benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Social Security, making it more likely that those experiencing homelessness will be visible and counted accurately.

Dozens of organizations and their staff assisted with surveying and counting people during this year’s PIT count. These staff members were from agencies that serve individuals experiencing homelessness, including shelter staff, street outreach teams and behavioral health providers. Emergency shelters and transitional housing programs surveyed their own guests, while other volunteers canvassed the city to identify people staying in unsheltered locations such as parking ramps, building entryways, public libraries, food pantries and parks. 

Of the 605 individuals counted in the 2026 PIT count, 156 were adults ages 35 to 44, while 131 were adults ages 45 to 54. Children younger than 18 accounted for 90 of those counted. The count also identified 27 veterans experiencing homelessness.

This year’s PIT count found that 113 individuals were identified with a substance use disorder. A total of 108 adults were counted as survivors of domestic violence while 93 adults were reported as having a serious mental illness. 

Organizations that took part in the 2026 PIT count were the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, St. Francis House, Union Gospel Mission, Minnehaha County Human Services, Shelter for Family Safety, Call to Freedom, Volunteers of America, Southeastern Directions for Life and the Veterans Community Project.

While assistance for those experiencing homelessness is primarily the responsibility of Minnehaha County under South Dakota law, the City of Sioux Falls plays an active role in addressing this complex community challenge through collaboration, prevention and compassionate response. 

For more details, visit siouxfalls.gov/homelessness.