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Codington County Community Services Reports Rising Homelessness Needs, New Staff, and Transitional Housing Push in Watertown

Magnifying glass over an affordable housing word cloud with HOME, family, rent, and community; Northeast Radio SD logo at right.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD — Codington County Community Services Director Sara Foust delivered a data‑rich monthly report Tuesday, outlining rising service demands, new staff onboarding, Medicaid billing challenges, major federal and state grant opportunities, and substantial progress on the county’s systems‑of‑care facility now owned by Codington Connects.


Her report aligns with the agenda’s monthly statistics, which show continued pressure on homelessness services, steady Medicaid reimbursement activity, and ongoing development of community support programs.


Homelessness Contacts Rise Despite Fewer Unique Clients

Foust began by noting that June saw 41 unique individuals, slightly fewer than previous months, but total client activity increased sharply. The office recorded:


·         58 distinct services provided

·         110 total client contacts


This jump reflects the intensity of homelessness cases, which require repeated follow‑ups, coordination with landlords, emergency placements, and case management.

“The intensity makes all the difference,” Foust said. “Homeless clients require significantly more time and support.”

Demographics & Service Breakdown

Agenda data shows:

·         Ages served: 16 through 80+

·         Largest age group: 30–39 (45 individuals year‑to‑date)

·         Gender distribution: 59% female, 41% male

·         Most requested service: Housing assistance (21 individuals assisted in June)

Foust emphasized that housing support remains the county’s most time‑consuming service, reflecting ongoing pressure on Watertown’s limited housing resources.


Foust introduced two new hires who began July 1:

·         Tiffany Barthel

·         Cassidy Beaver

Both are already taking on specialized roles that expand the department’s capacity.


Cassidy Beaver – Community Health Worker Trainee

Cassidy is helping develop long‑planned life skills and young adult programming, including:


·         Budgeting

·         Household management

·         Employment readiness

·         Basic adult living skills

These programs aim to support young adults transitioning into independent living — a need identified repeatedly in county data.

Tiffany Barthel – Public Defender Support Specialist

Tiffany has already met with local attorneys and is building the county’s first structured public defender support program, designed to assist court‑appointed attorneys with:


·         Case coordination

·         Client communication

·         Resource navigation

·         Documentation and follow‑up

She plans to present a full program outline to commissioners in three to four months.


Medicaid Billing Down Slightly Due to Care Plan Delays

Foust reported that Medicaid billing for June totaled $341,150, but reimbursement was lower because the office is experiencing delays in receiving required care plans from medical providers.


Year‑to‑date Medicaid reimbursement stands at $11,064, according to the agenda’s financial section.


Other funding streams include:

CHW Grant (Department of Health)

·         June reimbursement: $1,437

·         Total available: $40,000 (June 2026–May 2027)

·         Covers:

o    CHW salary

o    Supplies

o    Travel

o    Educational materials


COSSUP Grant (Department of Justice)

·         April–June drawdown: $80,490

·         Supports multiple positions, including Angie’s role

·         Can be supplemented into the county budget (unlike Medicaid reimbursement)


Office Hours Updated to Reflect Actual Availability

Foust clarified that although signage previously listed client hours as 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., staff have long operated 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office has now updated signage to ensure residents know they can walk in anytime during the full workday.

Codington Connects Building Transfer Finalized; Renovation Begins

Foust confirmed that Codington Connects now officially owns the former BPI building, allowing the organization to move forward with renovation and program development.


Renovation Steps Underway

·         Catalyst is coordinating asbestos remediation, the first required step.

·         Asbestos is present in flooring layers and some ceiling tiles.

·         Removal is necessary before any construction or remodeling.

·         Financing discussions with local banks are ongoing.


Once remediation is complete, the county will have a clearer timeline for full renovation.


Future Use of the Facility

The building will eventually serve as a centralized hub for community services, including:


·         Behavioral health support

·         Housing navigation

·         Family services

·         Community health worker programming

·         Interagency collaboration


Interagency Collaboration and Community Outreach

Foust reported continued participation in:]


·         LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) meetings

·         Child care action planning, with priorities identified

·         Promotion of free summer family activities

·         Partnerships with WIC, Bright Start, and SDSU Extension

·         Community events such as Splash in the Summer


She also thanked commissioners for their ongoing support:

“Your investment in collaboration has made a huge difference in our community,” Foust said.

Budget Presentation: Salary‑Driven Increases, Stable Rent, and Adjusted Expenses

Foust presented her 2027 budget request, noting that all increases are salary‑related, including:


·         3% cost‑of‑living adjustment

·         10% insurance increase

·         Adjustments for:

o    Two community health workers

o    Foust

o    Office assistant


Other highlights:

·         Rent decreased due to stable expectations for next year

·         Office repair increased slightly for unknown needs

·         Other expenses reduced by $500

·         Burials remain budgeted at $45,000, consistent with historical demand

·         Total expense increase: $48,943, driven entirely by salaries and benefits


Public Defender Support Budget Outlined

Commissioners also reviewed a new budget structure for the public defender support role, currently filled by Tiffany Barthel.

Proposed budget:


·         Salary + benefits: $109,068

·         Office rent: $150/month

·         Materials: $2,000

·         Travel/conference: $800

·         Utilities (cell phone): approx. $20–30/month

·         Other expenses: $1,000


For 2026, expenses will be tracked under court‑appointed attorneys to avoid a mid‑year budget supplement.


Commission Approves CHW Apprenticeship Program Application

Commissioners unanimously approved Foust’s request to apply for a Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program through the South Dakota Department of Labor.


The apprenticeship will:

·         Cover Cassidy Beaver’s CHW certification at Lake Area Technical College

·         Fund up to $5,000 of salary support for Cassidy and her trainer, Paige

·         Require no county match


A motion by Commissioner Myron Johnson and seconded by Vice Chairman Randy Schweer carried without opposition.


Commission Approves Application for Transitional Housing Funding

Foust also requested permission to apply for South Dakota Housing Development Authority Continuum of Care funding to establish transitional housing in Watertown — a need she described as “significant.”


Why Transitional Housing Matters

Transitional housing provides up to two years of stable housing for individuals experiencing:


·         Chronic homelessness

·         Mental health challenges

·         Difficulty maintaining long‑term housing


Funding Details

·         Estimated annual request: just over $350,000

·         Expected capacity: 15–20 residents

·         Funding would support:

o    A program coordinator

o    A community health worker

o    Rent for a facility (potentially through the monastery partnership)

o    Case management requirements (20 hours per participant)

o    Temporary hotel stays for rural placement needs


The program requires a 25% match, but Foust confirmed the county can meet this entirely through in‑kind services, including:


·         Her position

·         Facility rent offsets

·         Existing support infrastructure


Foust said Watertown scored very high in last fall’s application cycle and would likely have been funded if HUD’s process had not been delayed by litigation.


Commissioners approved the application unanimously following a motion by Johnson and a second by Schweer.


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