Very good article and absolutely more money is obviously not the answer especially the way it’s been spent in the past. Another element of homelessness not mentioned is mental illness. Yet another problem that is mishandled at best poorly dealt with if at all.
Just throwing money into the hole doesn't work! Effective homeless programs focus on providing immediate, stable housing paired with supportive services. Proven models include Housing First, Permanent Supportive Housing, and rapid re-housing programs. These interventions consistently show high housing retention rates and cost-effectiveness compared to emergency care.
here's one Housing-First-Evidence.pdf. from the National Low Income Housing Coalition website. Also, just google "data showing the effectiveness of homelessness programs" and several programs pop up for your review.
Private equity firms, developers, and financial institutions make significant profits from low-income housing, primarily through government incentives like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). The American Greed way of doing business....help the low income people but profit from it!
I can understand a temporary problem but not when people find it easier to become a burden to others rather than earn their own income. Makes you wonder if the homeless program is actually about preventing the construction workers from becoming homeless? Absolutely stupid-easy answer, dont work, dont eat, dont eat, dont poop, dont poop, you die. Either homeless people need to work or the end is at hand, life is that simple but the real answer is to get all the illegals the hell out of our country 1st, stop the H1B visa programs, stop allowing more foreign students than USA born students, and you know most if not all of this will sort it self out very quickly when the businesses no longer have indentured servants & illegals to steal the jobs from the ones who are homeless. It may seem heartless, but it comes down to this hard reality.
Homelessness is not a new issue. When people don't have enough income to pay for life's necessities, the likely outcome is one sort of financial insecurity or another. It can happen to anyone, Lose a job and can't find one that pays enough or have a health emergency and you are going to face financial insecurity which can spiral. Then there are the mental health issues, or drug, alcohol or gambling issues that contribute to homelessness. Divorce can cause homelessness. So, it's not a simple issue at all. It's very complex. Edward Daniels is correct, though, For many people, stable housing combined with support services tailored to their particular problems works best. Some people with severe underlying issues may still end up unable live in housing that is provided.
Another issue is that the market does not provide housing for poor people. It has be be done by non-profits or the government.
Costs. When there is competition (is a lot of that in real estate) costs increase when the outside inputs change. For rental properties that is property taxes, sales taxes, fees, maintenance costs, and construction costs. All of those things have increased recently and all are related to government spending (local, state, and federal levels). Perhaps the solution is to reduce the spending. Then the prices should come down.
Governments face tin he same issues as property management companies. They purchase from private companies who raise prices for all sorts of reasons, most of which you fail to mention.
Great article and should get people thinking! "More money" does not fix the problem as stated in the article and rings true across ie, Education, Healthcare, Military Government, etc, you name it. Money is not the solution to our problems, it just leads to more skimming and wasteful/inefficient spending by our overlords!
Twenty percent of the homeless population results from being victims of crimes such as domestic violence. Those living for a time in domestic abuse shelters are considered homeless and need other things besides shelter. Costs of their stay there includes, of course, their housing. It also includes food and other supplies needed, since most enter such shelters with minimal personal items. Then, of course, there is the cost of security. It also includes mental health counseling, initial substance abuse counciling (if necessary), transportation to court, medical care (if needed), assistance with child care, etc. The twenty percent figure is a low-ball count because it just includes those in domestic abuse shelters, and not those living on the street, in cars, etc.
What do you want to cut from these families?
Then there are the veterans. What should we cut from trying to help them? Give me a figure.
There are, of course, the hard-luck cases, just temporarily out of work but can't pay the rent. Should we not help them get back on their feet? How do they do that without an address to give a potential employer,?
There are some homeless youths, kicked out of their foster homes on their 18th birthday because the state doesn't pay foster parents beyond that. Many will come to Sioux Falls or Rapid and fall in with the wrong crowd, commit some petty crimes and get locked up at far greater expense to you and me. You think it might be a good deal to try to help them get on with a good life?
There are a number of drunks and drug abusers not in the other categories. I suppose they don't deserve a lot of sympathy, but if you listen to their stories you might want to try to help them get out from under their pain. But then they can to that in jail, at far higher costs to you and me, can't they?
You see, you are going to pay a relatively small amount, or you are going to pay a much higher cost. It's up to you.
These guys are rank amateurs compared to the democrats like Newsome in California. Odd a California based web page would draw attention to the billions in corruption they are allowing.
However it is good to see you finally say something about a true waste of tax dollars, social welfare.
You know what is a problem? Paying the interest on our national debt which is now over 31 Trillion- the largest since WWII!
We pay 1.33 out for every dollar we bring in. Not to mention we are now paying a billion a day for the war in Iran that no one wanted. We have 88 major corporations that paid ZERO in federal taxes this past year thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill.
It was the April 2026 report from Institution on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
It included companies like Tesla, United Airlines, Yum Brands,Palantir Technologies, CVS Health, Citigroup, PayPal and many others. It was due to the 2017 Tax and jobs act that lowered corporate rates to 21% and provided numerous loopholes and the Big Beautiful Bill and deductions for executive stock options.
I’m unable to copy and paste the info here but you can Google “ list of corporations that paid no federal taxes in 2025”
Many of these corporate owners are billionaires that donate to our politicians to get them do write the tax code and bills that favor them.
The homeless, the poor, the single parents are NOT the problem in our country. The greedy Epstein class controls Congress and the media and pays ti turn us against each other by blaming the poor and immigrants while they steal us blind.
Thank you for sharing the link. That problem has been going on for decades. Whomever is in the White House determines the winners and the losers. It doesn't seem to matter if it is a Democrat or Republican. Same issue (it's just who is special enough to get the break).
Very good article and absolutely more money is obviously not the answer especially the way it’s been spent in the past. Another element of homelessness not mentioned is mental illness. Yet another problem that is mishandled at best poorly dealt with if at all.
Thank you for bringing up mental illness. Why is that such a big issue today?
South Dakota Voices Response: Scott, thanks for the note. We are sorry. Could you tell us what made you homeless?
Email comment from SA: "I am homeless and need a place to live"
Just throwing money into the hole doesn't work! Effective homeless programs focus on providing immediate, stable housing paired with supportive services. Proven models include Housing First, Permanent Supportive Housing, and rapid re-housing programs. These interventions consistently show high housing retention rates and cost-effectiveness compared to emergency care.
Would you be so kind as to share a link with the financial details?
Just goggle "homeless programs that work!
We have, but they are short on data. If you have some links that show the data we could add that to the discussion.
here's one Housing-First-Evidence.pdf. from the National Low Income Housing Coalition website. Also, just google "data showing the effectiveness of homelessness programs" and several programs pop up for your review.
Who makes money on low income housing?
Private equity firms, developers, and financial institutions make significant profits from low-income housing, primarily through government incentives like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). The American Greed way of doing business....help the low income people but profit from it!
Yes, it is a career!
I can understand a temporary problem but not when people find it easier to become a burden to others rather than earn their own income. Makes you wonder if the homeless program is actually about preventing the construction workers from becoming homeless? Absolutely stupid-easy answer, dont work, dont eat, dont eat, dont poop, dont poop, you die. Either homeless people need to work or the end is at hand, life is that simple but the real answer is to get all the illegals the hell out of our country 1st, stop the H1B visa programs, stop allowing more foreign students than USA born students, and you know most if not all of this will sort it self out very quickly when the businesses no longer have indentured servants & illegals to steal the jobs from the ones who are homeless. It may seem heartless, but it comes down to this hard reality.
Homelessness is not a new issue. When people don't have enough income to pay for life's necessities, the likely outcome is one sort of financial insecurity or another. It can happen to anyone, Lose a job and can't find one that pays enough or have a health emergency and you are going to face financial insecurity which can spiral. Then there are the mental health issues, or drug, alcohol or gambling issues that contribute to homelessness. Divorce can cause homelessness. So, it's not a simple issue at all. It's very complex. Edward Daniels is correct, though, For many people, stable housing combined with support services tailored to their particular problems works best. Some people with severe underlying issues may still end up unable live in housing that is provided.
Another issue is that the market does not provide housing for poor people. It has be be done by non-profits or the government.
Why are the costs increasing?
Why are rents incretasing?
Costs. When there is competition (is a lot of that in real estate) costs increase when the outside inputs change. For rental properties that is property taxes, sales taxes, fees, maintenance costs, and construction costs. All of those things have increased recently and all are related to government spending (local, state, and federal levels). Perhaps the solution is to reduce the spending. Then the prices should come down.
Governments face tin he same issues as property management companies. They purchase from private companies who raise prices for all sorts of reasons, most of which you fail to mention.
What do you mean exactly?
Great article and should get people thinking! "More money" does not fix the problem as stated in the article and rings true across ie, Education, Healthcare, Military Government, etc, you name it. Money is not the solution to our problems, it just leads to more skimming and wasteful/inefficient spending by our overlords!
Thank you for bringing up the “more money” theory. The data suggests that model has failed (is failing).
Twenty percent of the homeless population results from being victims of crimes such as domestic violence. Those living for a time in domestic abuse shelters are considered homeless and need other things besides shelter. Costs of their stay there includes, of course, their housing. It also includes food and other supplies needed, since most enter such shelters with minimal personal items. Then, of course, there is the cost of security. It also includes mental health counseling, initial substance abuse counciling (if necessary), transportation to court, medical care (if needed), assistance with child care, etc. The twenty percent figure is a low-ball count because it just includes those in domestic abuse shelters, and not those living on the street, in cars, etc.
What do you want to cut from these families?
Then there are the veterans. What should we cut from trying to help them? Give me a figure.
There are, of course, the hard-luck cases, just temporarily out of work but can't pay the rent. Should we not help them get back on their feet? How do they do that without an address to give a potential employer,?
There are some homeless youths, kicked out of their foster homes on their 18th birthday because the state doesn't pay foster parents beyond that. Many will come to Sioux Falls or Rapid and fall in with the wrong crowd, commit some petty crimes and get locked up at far greater expense to you and me. You think it might be a good deal to try to help them get on with a good life?
There are a number of drunks and drug abusers not in the other categories. I suppose they don't deserve a lot of sympathy, but if you listen to their stories you might want to try to help them get out from under their pain. But then they can to that in jail, at far higher costs to you and me, can't they?
You see, you are going to pay a relatively small amount, or you are going to pay a much higher cost. It's up to you.
These guys are rank amateurs compared to the democrats like Newsome in California. Odd a California based web page would draw attention to the billions in corruption they are allowing.
However it is good to see you finally say something about a true waste of tax dollars, social welfare.
You know what is a problem? Paying the interest on our national debt which is now over 31 Trillion- the largest since WWII!
We pay 1.33 out for every dollar we bring in. Not to mention we are now paying a billion a day for the war in Iran that no one wanted. We have 88 major corporations that paid ZERO in federal taxes this past year thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill.
Homelessness is NOT the problem.
Could you please provide a link to those corporations, so others can have that information.
It was the April 2026 report from Institution on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
It included companies like Tesla, United Airlines, Yum Brands,Palantir Technologies, CVS Health, Citigroup, PayPal and many others. It was due to the 2017 Tax and jobs act that lowered corporate rates to 21% and provided numerous loopholes and the Big Beautiful Bill and deductions for executive stock options.
I’m unable to copy and paste the info here but you can Google “ list of corporations that paid no federal taxes in 2025”
Many of these corporate owners are billionaires that donate to our politicians to get them do write the tax code and bills that favor them.
The homeless, the poor, the single parents are NOT the problem in our country. The greedy Epstein class controls Congress and the media and pays ti turn us against each other by blaming the poor and immigrants while they steal us blind.
https://itep.org/88-profitable-corporations-paid-zero-income-tax-in-2025/
Thank you for sharing the link. That problem has been going on for decades. Whomever is in the White House determines the winners and the losers. It doesn't seem to matter if it is a Democrat or Republican. Same issue (it's just who is special enough to get the break).