If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in South Dakota tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. South Dakota has a statewide network of government agencies, nonprofits, and emergency assistance programs that can place you in a safe motel or hotel room while you work toward stable housing.
This guide covers every South Dakota-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in South Dakota — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in South Dakota through the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS), the South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA), local Community Action Agencies, the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, and other nonprofits. The fastest way to access one is to dial 211, which connects you to local emergency housing resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who Provides Hotel Vouchers in South Dakota?
Several organizations in South Dakota can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) — South Dakota’s primary social services agency manages emergency assistance programs that can cover short-term motel stays for eligible individuals and families. Contact your local DSS office or visit dss.sd.gov.
South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) — SDHDA manages South Dakota’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit sdhda.org.
South Dakota 211 — Dialing 211 connects you with a trained operator who can identify the nearest hotel voucher program with available funds in your specific county or region. South Dakota’s 211 system covers all 66 counties.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — South Dakota has Community Action Agencies serving regions across the state. Given South Dakota’s vast geography — the 17th-largest state by area with a relatively sparse population — these agencies are especially critical providers of emergency hotel and motel vouchers, particularly in rural areas.
Salvation Army South Dakota — The Salvation Army operates locations in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, and other communities and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Social Services South Dakota — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, with offices in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and other communities statewide.
American Red Cross South Dakota — If your housing crisis results from a blizzard, tornado, flood, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — In South Dakota’s many small and remote communities, local churches are often the first and most accessible source of emergency hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in South Dakota?
Eligibility varies by program, but most South Dakota hotel voucher programs give priority to:
- Individuals and families who are currently homeless (sleeping outside, in a vehicle, or in an unsafe location)
- People facing imminent eviction within 24–72 hours
- Families with children — prioritized by most South Dakota programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most South Dakota programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by blizzards, tornadoes, or flooding
- American Indian and Alaska Native individuals — South Dakota has one of the highest proportions of Native American residents of any U.S. state, with nine federally recognized tribes and large urban Native populations in Sioux Falls and Rapid City
- Individuals exposed to South Dakota’s extreme weather — from life-threatening blizzards and subzero temperatures in winter to violent tornadoes and severe heat in summer
South Dakota’s weather is among the most extreme in the nation — blizzards can develop rapidly on the open plains, temperatures can plummet to -30°F or below, and summer tornadoes regularly cross the state. The Black Hills region in the west and the vast Great Plains in the east create very different weather patterns and service delivery challenges. South Dakota also has nine federally recognized tribal nations, whose members represent a significant portion of the state’s homeless population — particularly in Rapid City and on the Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and other reservations. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in South Dakota, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in South Dakota (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Call 211
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone — it’s free. Tell the operator: “I need emergency shelter or a hotel voucher tonight in South Dakota.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county. South Dakota’s 211 covers all 66 counties.
Step 2: Contact Your Local South Dakota DSS Office
South Dakota DSS has offices across the state. DSS administers the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and can connect you with temporary housing funds including motel vouchers for qualifying individuals and families.
Contact: dss.sd.gov | 605-773-3165
Step 3: Contact South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA)
SDHDA funds emergency shelter and housing programs across South Dakota and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: sdhda.org | 605-773-3181
Step 4: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
South Dakota’s Community Action Agencies serve regions across the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Community Outreach — Sioux Falls / Minnehaha County
- West River Community Action — Rapid City / Pennington County and western South Dakota
- First Peoples Fund — Rapid City (tribal communities)
- Dakota Plains Legal Services — tribal communities statewide
- Community Action of Aberdeen — Aberdeen / Brown County
- South Eastern Council of Governments (SECOG) — southeastern South Dakota
- Lake Area Improvement Corporation — Watertown / northeast South Dakota
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 5: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations in South Dakota’s larger cities and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Sioux Falls: 605-336-9300
- Rapid City: 605-342-0685
- Aberdeen: 605-225-4190
Step 6: Contact Catholic Social Services
Catholic Social Services provides emergency housing assistance to anyone in need regardless of faith.
- Sioux Falls (Catholic Social Services Diocese of Sioux Falls): 605-988-3775
- Rapid City (Catholic Social Services Diocese of Rapid City): 605-348-6086
South Dakota Government Programs for Emergency Housing
South Dakota DSS — TANF Emergency Assistance
South Dakota DSS administers TANF and can provide emergency housing assistance for eligible families with children. County DSS offices manage emergency funds that can authorize temporary motel stays in qualifying situations.
Contact: dss.sd.gov | 605-773-3165
South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA)
SDHDA manages South Dakota’s affordable housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local service providers. They are the primary funder of emergency shelter and hotel voucher programs statewide.
Contact: sdhda.org | 605-773-3181
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — South Dakota
South Dakota receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through SDHDA to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: SDHDA at sdhda.org
HUD Continuum of Care — South Dakota CoC Programs
South Dakota has two primary CoC structures:
- Sioux Falls CoC (Minnehaha County)
- Balance of State South Dakota CoC — covers all remaining South Dakota counties including Rapid City and western South Dakota
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info
Tribal Emergency Assistance Programs
South Dakota’s nine federally recognized tribal nations each have tribal social services that can provide emergency housing assistance including motel vouchers for tribal members:
- Oglala Sioux Tribe Social Services (Pine Ridge): 605-867-5810
- Rosebud Sioux Tribe Social Services (Rosebud): 605-747-2296
- Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Social Services (Fort Yates, ND — serves SD communities): 701-854-8500
- Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Social Services (Eagle Butte): 605-964-4155
- Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Social Services (Fort Thompson): 605-245-2221
- Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Social Services (Lower Brule): 605-473-5561
- Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Social Services (Flandreau): 605-997-3891
- Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Social Services (Agency Village): 605-698-3911
- Yankton Sioux Tribe Social Services (Marty): 605-384-3804
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in South Dakota — such as a major blizzard or flood — FEMA’s TSA program can place you in a participating hotel or motel at no cost.
Apply: disasterassistance.gov | 1-800-621-3362
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) — South Dakota
Homeless South Dakota veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged. South Dakota has a significant veteran population relative to its size.
South Dakota VA Locations:
- Sioux Falls VA Health Care System: 605-336-3230
- Fort Meade VA Medical Center (Sturgis area): 605-347-2511
- Hot Springs VA Medical Center: 605-745-2000
- Rapid City VA Clinic: 605-718-1095
- Aberdeen VA Clinic: 605-622-2640
- Pierre VA Clinic: 605-945-1840
- Watertown VA Clinic: 605-886-0533
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in South Dakota
Salvation Army South Dakota
With locations in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen, the Salvation Army is one of South Dakota’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Social Services South Dakota
Serves anyone in need regardless of faith, with offices in Sioux Falls and Rapid City providing emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals.
Bishop Dudley Hospitality House — Sioux Falls
Bishop Dudley Hospitality House is Sioux Falls’s primary emergency shelter for homeless adults, providing shelter, meals, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in eastern South Dakota.
Contact: 605-988-3765 | diocesesiousfalls.org/bishop-dudley
Volunteers of America Dakotas — Sioux Falls
Volunteers of America Dakotas provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals and families in Sioux Falls and eastern South Dakota.
Contact: 605-339-1730 | voa-dakotas.org
Home for the Homeless — Sioux Falls
Home for the Homeless provides emergency shelter and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in the Sioux Falls area.
Contact: 605-339-9966 | homeforthehomeless.net
Western South Dakota Community Action — Rapid City
Provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the Rapid City area and western South Dakota, including communities near the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations.
Contact: 605-718-1095
Cornerstone Rescue Mission — Rapid City
Cornerstone Rescue Mission is one of Rapid City’s primary emergency shelter providers, offering shelter, meals, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in the Black Hills region.
Contact: 605-343-5361 | cornerstonerescue.org
Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity — Rapid City
In addition to homebuilding, Black Hills Habitat connects individuals with emergency housing resources and hotel voucher programs in the Rapid City and Black Hills area.
Contact: 605-342-6773 | blackhillshabitat.org
First Peoples Fund — Rapid City
First Peoples Fund provides economic and cultural support for Native American artists and communities, including connections to emergency housing resources for Native Americans in Rapid City — where a large urban Native population faces significant housing challenges.
Contact: 605-348-0324 | firstpeoplesfund.org
Bright Futures Fund / Wiconi Waste — Pine Ridge Reservation
Wiconi Waste (“Good Life” in Lakota) provides emergency assistance and housing connections for homeless individuals and families on and near the Pine Ridge Reservation, one of the most economically distressed communities in the United States.
Contact: 605-455-2500
American Red Cross — South Dakota
The Red Cross assists people displaced by South Dakota’s blizzards, tornadoes, and floods. If your homelessness stems from a disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations.
Contact: 1-800-733-2767 | redcross.org
Emergency Housing Help by City and Region in South Dakota
Sioux Falls / Minnehaha County
Sioux Falls is South Dakota’s largest city and has the state’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Sioux Falls 211: Dial 211
- Bishop Dudley Hospitality House: 605-988-3765
- Volunteers of America Dakotas: 605-339-1730
- Home for the Homeless: 605-339-9966
- Salvation Army Sioux Falls: 605-336-9300
- Catholic Social Services Sioux Falls: 605-988-3775
- South Dakota DSS Sioux Falls: 605-367-5300
Rapid City / Pennington County
Rapid City has South Dakota’s second-largest concentration of services and serves a large Native American population:
- Rapid City 211: Dial 211
- Cornerstone Rescue Mission: 605-343-5361
- First Peoples Fund (Native American community): 605-348-0324
- Salvation Army Rapid City: 605-342-0685
- Catholic Social Services Rapid City: 605-348-6086
- West River Community Action: 605-718-1095
- South Dakota DSS Rapid City: 605-394-2571
Aberdeen / Brown County
- Aberdeen 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Aberdeen: 605-225-4190
- Northeast South Dakota Community Action: 605-225-4033
- South Dakota DSS Aberdeen: 605-626-2250
Watertown / Codington County
- Watertown 211: Dial 211
- Lake Area Improvement Corporation: 605-882-2740
- South Dakota DSS Watertown: 605-882-5130
Mitchell / Davison County
- Mitchell 211: Dial 211
- South Central Community Action: 605-996-2891
- South Dakota DSS Mitchell: 605-995-8100
Pierre / Hughes County (State Capital)
- Pierre 211: Dial 211
- Central South Dakota Enhancement District: 605-224-6060
- South Dakota DSS Pierre: 605-773-3165
Pine Ridge / Oglala Lakota County
Pine Ridge is home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and one of the most economically distressed communities in the United States:
- Pine Ridge 211: Dial 211
- Oglala Sioux Tribe Social Services: 605-867-5810
- Wiconi Waste: 605-455-2500
- Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce (emergency referrals): 605-867-6292
- Oglala Lakota County Social Services: 605-867-5810
Rosebud / Todd County
- Rosebud 211: Dial 211
- Rosebud Sioux Tribe Social Services: 605-747-2296
- Sinte Gleska University Social Services (emergency referrals): 605-856-8100
- Todd County Social Services: 605-747-2672
What to Do After Your Hotel Voucher Runs Out
A hotel voucher is a bridge — not a permanent solution. While you have temporary shelter, take these steps toward stable housing:
Connect with a case manager. Ask the organization that gave you the voucher to assign you a case manager. Case managers in South Dakota can help you navigate housing programs, tribal resources, and benefits specific to your county or reservation.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in South Dakota. RRH programs provide short-term rental assistance and support to help you move from homelessness into housing quickly. Contact your local CoC or dial 211 to find RRH programs available in your South Dakota county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact SDHDA at sdhda.org or your local housing authority to apply. Apply as early as possible — even in smaller South Dakota cities, waitlists can be significant due to the state’s housing shortage.
Apply for South Dakota Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact SDHDA at sdhda.org or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your area.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like Volunteers of America Dakotas, Cornerstone Rescue Mission, Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, and the Salvation Army offer transitional housing programs in South Dakota with support services to help you build long-term stability.
Apply for benefits you may qualify for. If you haven’t already, apply for SNAP food assistance, South Dakota Medicaid, and TANF at your local DSS office or at dss.sd.gov or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in South Dakota tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your South Dakota county. In Sioux Falls, you can also contact Bishop Dudley Hospitality House at 605-988-3765 or the Salvation Army at 605-336-9300 directly. In Rapid City, contact Cornerstone Rescue Mission at 605-343-5361.
Are hotel vouchers available for Native Americans in South Dakota?
Yes. South Dakota’s nine tribal nations each have tribal social services that can provide emergency housing assistance including motel vouchers for enrolled members. Contact your specific tribe’s social services office directly. Urban Native Americans in Rapid City — where a large Native population faces significant housing challenges — can contact First Peoples Fund (605-348-0324) and ask about Native-specific emergency housing resources. Dial 211 for additional resources.
Are hotel vouchers available on Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations?
Yes. Oglala Sioux Tribe Social Services (605-867-5810) on Pine Ridge and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Social Services (605-747-2296) on Rosebud provide emergency assistance including motel vouchers for tribal members. Wiconi Waste (605-455-2500) also provides emergency housing connections on Pine Ridge. Resources may be very limited in these communities — call as early as possible and also contact 211.
Does South Dakota have emergency housing during blizzards?
Yes. South Dakota’s blizzards are among the most dangerous in the Great Plains — white-out conditions, rapidly dropping temperatures, and stranded travelers are common. Emergency housing during blizzards is treated as a life-safety emergency. Local shelters maintain winter overflow capacity, and emergency hotel placements are made when conditions are life-threatening. Dial 211 immediately during blizzard conditions.
Does South Dakota DSS provide hotel vouchers?
Yes. South Dakota DSS manages TANF emergency assistance that can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying families with children. Contact your local county DSS office directly to ask about available emergency funds.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in South Dakota?
Many programs will still help you without a photo ID, though having one speeds up the process. If you’ve lost your ID, ask your caseworker or local DSS office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in South Dakota?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System at 605-336-3230 or the Fort Meade VA Medical Center at 605-347-2511. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis. South Dakota has a notably high veteran population per capita.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in South Dakota?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the South Dakota Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-430-7233 (24/7) for immediate safe housing assistance.
What if there are no hotel vouchers available in my area?
If vouchers are unavailable, ask about shelter beds or warming centers during winter. In remote South Dakota communities — particularly on reservations — contact tribal social services, local law enforcement, or the nearest church. You can also call the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-466-4782 for additional guidance.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in South Dakota tonight, your first call should be to 211. From there, operators can connect you with the nearest available program — whether that’s Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, Cornerstone Rescue Mission, Volunteers of America Dakotas, a tribal social services office, the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, or another local organization serving your area.
South Dakota has resources for you — from Sioux Falls to Rapid City, from the Black Hills to the Great Plains, from the Badlands to the reservations. Don’t wait to reach out — help is available even in the most remote corners of the Mount Rushmore State.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: South Dakota DSS, South Dakota Housing Development Authority, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army South Dakota
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.