Codington County Approves Emergency Housing Grant Application to Help Watertown Residents Facing Homelessness

Steve Jurrens
54 minutes ago
2 min read

Binders labeled "Applications" and "Grants" are stacked on a desk, surrounded by paperwork and a calculator, representing the administrative processes of Codington County, South Dakota, as highlighted by Northeast Radio SD.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a move to prevent a gap in critical housing assistance, the Codington County Commissioners have authorized the local Community Services Office to take over the application and management of the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The unanimous decision during Tuesday’s meeting ensures that local funds aimed at homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing will remain accessible to residents in need.

Bridging the Gap Left by ICAP

Historically, the Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership (ICAP) has administered the ESG program on behalf of Codington County. However, the organization recently decided to step back from managing these specific funds in the area.

Sarah Foust, Codington County’s Community Services Director, presented the issue to the commission, stressing the importance of the county stepping in to secure the grant.

“ICAP had been covering Codington County, and they’re no longer covering Codington County through the ESG grant,” Foust explained. “So we don’t have the Emergency Solutions Grant in this form in Watertown.”

Without the county’s direct intervention, vulnerable residents facing housing crises would have lost access to a vital safety net.

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Understanding the Emergency Solutions Grant

The Emergency Solutions Grant is a federally funded program originating from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Continuum of Care program. At the state level, it is managed and distributed by the South Dakota Housing Authority.

The grant is divided into two primary avenues of assistance:

1. Rapid Rehousing: Aimed at individuals and families who are “literally homeless” and unable to secure shelter at local facilities like Watertown Cares.

2. Homelessness Prevention: Designed to assist those who are at imminent risk of losing their housing, providing crucial rental assistance to keep them housed.

Funding Breakdown and Financial Impact

While the maximum amount any single entity can apply for is $80,000, Foust indicated that her office is targeting a slightly lower, highly tailored amount based on the county’s specific needs. Furthermore, while the grant requires a local match, it will not necessitate any new spending from the county budget.

“There is a match to this one,” Foust assured the commissioners. “It would be covered through my salary and the other funding that we have already been using for that.”

Proposed ESG Funding Allocation for Codington County:

Program Category	Target Demographic	Estimated Funding Request
Rapid Rehousing	Currently homeless individuals	$50,000 - $55,000
Homelessness Prevention	Individuals at risk of homelessness	$15,000
Total Estimated Application		$65,000 - $70,000

Note: The Community Services Office is currently finalizing application numbers.

Following Foust’s presentation and a brief clarifying question from District 1 Commissioner Lee Gabel regarding the shift away from ICAP, District 3 Commissioner Myron Johnson motioned to approve the application request. District 2 Commissioner Tyler McElhany provided the second, and the motion carried without opposition.