Codington County Commissioners Approve Transitional Housing Grant Application Amidst Service Expansion

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - In a move deemed crucial for the community’s social services infrastructure, the Codington County Commission approved an emergency application for a federal transitional housing grant.

The decision followed a comprehensive report from Community Service Director Sara Foust, who stressed the time-sensitive nature of the funding and the long-term impact of the expanded service model.

Transitional housing—providing long-term, intensive support for people experiencing homelessness—has been a persistent community goal. The County agreed to act as the official applicant for the grant after the intended partner, Watertown Cares, was unable to take on the project.

Director Foust highlighted the urgency of acting now, citing a federal reallocation of homeless funds:

“If South Dakota doesn’t send it, we will lose it forever... It’s kind of a get on the bus now. And once you’re on the bus, your seat might change, but you’re on the bus. But if you don’t get on the bus, it’s going to leave without you.”

The program, which would provide up to two years of support, is designed to be rigorous. Foust clarified that it is focused on rehabilitation and sustained contribution to the community:

“It’s not a free ride by any means. It’s people that are working to really get their lives together... The goal is, how can we get people to become productive members of our community? And that’s really what this is looking at.”

The County’s commitment to the pre-application is seen as a vital step toward securing continued funding for Watertown’s social services.

The Community Service office confirmed aggressive efforts to secure funding for new community health and prevention programs:

·   Opioid Grant Funding: The office completed two applications, including a $40,000 Community Health Worker (CHW) Opioid Grant and a $50,000 Community Awareness Campaign Grant.

·   New Pre-Trial Program: The office is working with the State’s Attorney and judges to launch a pre-trial case management program in January. The goal is to provide essential support to individuals in the court system to prevent long-term court involvement ultimately.

·   CHW Reimbursement: The department reported successful financial offsets through CHW services, with $1,878.25 from Medicaid and an additional $757.57 from the Department of Health CHW Grant in November.

Director Foust’s report included November service metrics and updates on ongoing community projects:

·   Service Metrics: The office served 40 unique individuals and maintained 81 total client contacts throughout the month.

·   Interagency Meeting: An essential interagency meeting for Systems of Care/Codington Connects is scheduled, with State Representatives confirmed to attend.

·   Future Initiatives: Progress continues toward a Centralized Services location, and a new community survey is being prepared to determine current local childcare needs for parents and employers.