According to a state wide homeless count, one thousand 36 people are homeless in South Dakota. That’s about a 17 percent increase from the previous year.

Chad Campbell, Executive Director of the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House in Sioux Falls, isn’t surprised.

“We have seen over 900 homeless individuals at our facility! That’s just here in Sioux Falls. Clearly the number that was counted on that one day count is a lot less that what actually is out there in our communities.”

So, why is the homeless population increasing in South Dakota and Sioux Falls?

“Individuals experience homelessness when they stay with their families, friends. Many times they lose the ability to remain in their homes. Sometimes their welcome gets worn out. They then find themselves homeless and on the streets. In a lot of cases, they come to a larger city like Rapid City and Sioux Falls because they’re in search of a job and a place to live.”

Campbell says the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House provides an opportunity for homeless people to seek employment and their own place to stay.

“We want to be there for our guests that we serve every single day. The guests can come to us and we treat them with dignity and with respect. We also give them the opportunity to be successful. I think that individuals need to know when they come to our facility we’re going to give them resources that will allow them to build their lives back.”

The Bishop Dudley Hospitality House has been serving the homeless since January.

The homeless count was conducted in January by the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium in collaboration with community agencies and homeless service providers.

More From KIKN-FM / Kickin' Country 99.1/100.5