15-05-2025
‘Keep showing up': SD nonprofit helping the unhoused
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – As temperatures start to get warmer, you may notice people in teal shirts walking around downtown Sioux Falls. It's part of an outreach program within South Dakota Urban Indian Health to help those experiencing homelessness connect with resources.
During Wednesday's One Sioux Falls meeting the city talked about its partnership with South Dakota Urban Indian Health and how one group is assisting those experiencing homelessness through the Wo'okiye Program.
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'So, whether that's just saying, 'hey, what can we do today? Can we get you some water? Are you aware of this resource? Can we make an appointment for you?' So that's daily goals, but then also looking long term, 'what do you want for yourself and what can we do to support you on, on your way there. And so a lot of what we do are filling those gaps,' South Dakota Urban Indian Health grants director, Erika Iverson said.
Walking in groups of two, its services are focused mainly in downtown Sioux Falls between Minnesota Ave. and Cleveland Ave. and between 14th St. and Russell. It's $175,000 contract with the city that was approved in March, which requires the group to provide 40 hours of active street outreach a week.
'I think our goal, you know, is just to be foot to pavement to be out there and really be seen in the community and be able to be seen to the people, our relatives on the streets, as well around the unhoused,' South Dakota Urban Indian Health certified peer recovery coach/group facilitator, Nikki Schoffelman said.
Iverson says during outreach work, it's important to establish trust with these individuals, in hopes that people will see the teal shirts and feathers as a symbol of love.
'A lot of what we're doing can be summed up with just building relationships. A lot of the people we seek to serve have come from trauma, live difficult lives and aren't readily open to trusting folks. And a lot of promises have been made and maybe not always a lot of follow-through. So a lot of what we do is just keep showing up,' Iverson said.
South Dakota Urban Indian Health says in 2024, it helped 226 people through the Wo`okiye Program. People can contact the line for non-emergency situations at (605) 809-5636.
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