Berakhah House

Since 2010, the Berakhah House has been providing emergency shelter for veterans experiencing homelessness in Sioux Falls. This program was created as a true community partnership to address the growing need to serve veterans. The Sioux Falls Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Volunteers of America, Dakotas, and the Catholic Diocese joined together in this public/private/government partnership to serve local veterans.

The program provides services under the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans contract with the Sioux Falls Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. The goal is to rapidly reduce homelessness among veterans using short-term intensive services designed to reduce barriers to community housing. The Sioux Falls VA homeless case managers refer individuals to the Berakhah House to provide safe, monitored, and structured housing for veterans.

The length of stay for the majority of residents is 60 days. During their stay, veterans are provided meals, supportive services, and group activities designed to overcome barriers to independent living.

The Berakhah House provides:

• Short-term emergency housing
• A safe, secure, and respectful environment
• Enhanced individual growth
• Employment options
• Housing opportunities 

Veterans Per Diem – Transition in Place Program

Veterans Per Diem Program is a VA-funded partnership with Volunteers of America, Dakotas where eligible veterans can be housed in community-based apartments for 6-24 months. Upon completion of the program, veterans will assume the lease and this will become their permanent housing.

Services

During their time in the program, veterans will work closely with a Volunteers of America, Dakotas case manager and a VA case manager to eliminate barriers to housing, employment, and other issues so that they can live independently. The program provides assistance with:

• Rent
• Furniture
• Food
• Utilities
• Transportation
• Coordination with community resources

Veterans Services Center

Volunteers of America, Dakotas - Veterans Services Center was established to provide drop-in services for veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

The facility is centrally located in the downtown area of Sioux Falls and within walking distance of other community resources. The Veterans Services Center offers the following:

• Laundry facilities
• Showers and bathrooms
• Computer access for job searches and resume preparation
• Referrals to VA and other community services
• Snacks
• Veterans Advocacy 
• Housing referral services

 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program

Volunteers of America, Dakotas - Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program is funded by a grant from the Department of Labor. The program provides employment services for veterans experiencing homelessness, including veterans that are chronically experiencing homelessness, all veterans, and incarcerated and recently incarcerated veterans. Any veteran chronically experiencing homelessness not currently living in permanent housing may apply for services. Veterans should have a copy of their DD214 to verify discharge status.

HVRP provides the following services: 

• Individual case management
• Assessment
• Strategy for rapid rehousing
• Individual planning
• Job search assistance
• Soft skills training
• Job club
• Employment supports
• Supportive services
• Assistance with tools/clothing
• Email set-up and computer access
• Resume building

Family Crisis Intervention

FCIP is a 24-hour, 365 days a year, immediate intervention program for youth ages 10-17 and their families who are in crisis for a variety of reasons. FCIP is a prevention and early intervention program. Early intervention aims at resolving problems before they become a major issue.  FCIP works in partnership with the Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha and Lincoln counties and is also open to the general public for direct referral.  Both parent and youth need to volunteer to participate, as interventions are typically not successful when one-sided.

An FCIP Specialist answers the crisis line, completing either a phone intervention or responding within 30 minutes to a neutral location for face-to-face intervention.  Interventions can be also be scheduled, if determined appropriate by the FCIP Specialist. The majority of the intervention involves mediation of the situation, helping the youth or family to develop an action plan with follow-up within 24-48 hours of the intervention.  Case management services are also available for the family, if more intense interaction is needed or requested.

Focus of FCIP:

• To provide crisis mediation services
• To resolve family conflict
• To prevent runaway
• To foster connections to community

The conflicts range in severity from significant family conflict which, if unresolved, could result in physical violence or the youth running away, to discord about school, dating, friends, and peer pressure.  The common denominator for most calls is the lack of good communication, lack of positive conflict management, and family stress.

Eligibility for participation in the program is any conflict that involves a minor child and parent; referrals may come directly from law enforcement, schools personnel, parents, and youth.  The service area is Minnehaha County.  Parents must volunteer or be willing to participate in the intervention.

Situations inappropriate for FCIP include:

• Violent situations
• Abuse or neglect
• Suicidal assessments

If you feel like your family is in a crisis please call our 24/7 telephone number at 605.366.6757. Help is here for you.

Axis180

Volunteers of America, Dakotas’ Axis180 program provides young adults ages 16-21 the opportunity to transition out of unsafe environments into safe, supportive housing while they learn the skills necessary to succeed on their own.  Specifically, the program assists participants with education completion, employment training and placement, financial management skills, daily living skills, and interpersonal skills. 

For a virtual tour, click here. 

The Axis180 Program offers:

• Safe, affordable housing
• Life skills education and training
• Interpersonal skill building
• Education completion
• Job preparation skills
• Case management
• Staff available 24/7
   

The goal of Axis180 is to assist young people experiencing homelessness in making a successful transition to self-sufficiency.

Application and interview needed to determine eligibility.

Runaway and Homeless Youth

Safe Place

Volunteers of America, Dakotas is the only organization in South Dakota that participates in the 
National Safe Place program, and is listed on the National Runaway Switchboard.  Safe Place is a network of locations such as schools, fire stations, libraries, grocery and convenience stores, public transit and other appropriate public buildings.  All employees at Safe Place locations are trained to contact the Family Crisis Intervention 24-hour line, if a youth needs help. Safe Place serves youth ages 10-17.

Currently, there are 19 stationary sites and 29 mobile sites in the city of Sioux Falls.  These sites ensure the city is covered, geographically, so that youth do not have to venture far to find assistance. Sites include:

• 11 Fire stations
• Volunteers of America, Dakotas - Youth Center
• Volunteers of America, Dakotas - Axis180
• Volunteers of America, Dakotas - Counseling, Addiction & Prevention Services
• Children’s Inn
• Lutheran Social Services – E. Presentation location
• Sioux Area Metro headquarters
• Sioux Area Metro station
• All Sioux Area Metro buses
• Vishnu Bunny Tattoo Shop

If you need immediate help and don’t know where to turn, please text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357). Within seconds, you will receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number for the local youth agency. It’s quick, easy, safe, and confidential.

Youth can also contact FCIP directly for Safe Place services by dialing 605.366.6757.  Help is here for you.

The mission of the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) is to help keep America's runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. The organization serves as the federally designated national communication system for runaway and homeless youth. The network serves the following purposes:

• To alleviate the immediate needs of runaway youth
• To reunite children with their families whenever possible and to encourage the resolution of family problems through counseling
• To strengthen family relationships and encourage stable living conditions for youth to help them choose a future course of action

These goals are in keeping with the philosophies of the National Runaway and Homeless Youth Act that provides grants to support this program. Runaways can receive shelter, case management, counseling, and transportation assistance to return home or to another safe place as agreed upon by youth, parents or guardians, and Volunteers of America, Dakotas staff.

Street Outreach

Volunteers of America, Dakotas' Street Outreach services provide education and prevention to youth. Street outreach breaks with tradition by taking services to youth, rather than expecting them to come to the organization. Volunteers of America, Dakotas staff serve as a link to runaway/homeless youth and the programs/services they need to leave the street.

Identified by their bright yellow shirts, sweatshirts, or jackets, the Street Outreach team reaches out to young adults ages 16-21 in parks, malls, rec centers, fairgrounds, or wherever they may be congregating. Youth involved with Street Outreach receive encouragement, case management services, and other resources to help support them with healthy lifestyle choices. 

The goals of Street Outreach services are to:

• Establish relationships with youth to help them leave the street
• Alleviate the immediate needs of street youth
• Reunite youth with their families, when possible
• Help youth decide on a future course of action
• Provide resources and hygiene kits to those at risk

If you are homeless, runaway or at-risk of being either, please contact Street Outreach at 605.359.7524.