Last updated: May 19, 2026
Bottom line
Housing help in South Dakota is not one single program. If you need a place to stay tonight, start with 211 or a local shelter. If you need cheaper rent for the long term, use housing authority waitlists, income-based apartments, and rural rental searches. If you are trying to move but cannot cover a deposit, ask about South Dakota’s Security Deposit Assistance Program through local partner agencies.
Most programs are based on income, household size, where you live, and whether funds or units are available. Many programs serve parents, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and other low-income renters. You usually do not have to be a single mother to qualify, but the steps below are written for mothers caring for children while trying to keep housing stable.
If you need housing help today
If you are in danger, call 911. If you are being hurt, threatened, watched, or controlled by a partner or former partner, call the South Dakota Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-430-7233, or ask a trusted person to contact the South Dakota hotline for you. If it is safer to use a national contact, the National DV Hotline can help by phone, chat, or text.
If you are homeless, about to be homeless, or have an eviction notice, call 2-1-1. The 211 Helpline Center can connect you with shelters, local emergency help, food, utility help, and county or nonprofit resources. In Sioux Falls, the city also points people who are experiencing homelessness to 211 and Minnehaha County Human Services for immediate connection to support.
Where to start
Start with the problem in front of you. A voucher waitlist is not fast enough for a lockout this week. A shelter referral will not replace a long-term rent plan. A deposit program may help only after you have found a rental that will accept you.
You may lose housing soon
Call 211, contact local legal aid, and ask the court how to respond if you were served with eviction papers. Do not ignore court papers.
You need cheaper rent
Apply with every housing authority that serves your area and search income-based apartments. Ask each office if its waitlist is open.
You found a place
Ask about security deposit help before you sign if the move-in cost is the only thing stopping you.
You live rural
Use USDA rural rental listings, Community Action agencies, and 211. Rural areas may have fewer units, so apply widely.
For a broader list of help by need, use the South Dakota help page. If rent is only one part of the crisis, the emergency help guide may help you find food, utilities, and short-term support too.
Quick reference table
| Need | Start here | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency shelter or homelessness | 211 and local shelter referrals | Ask for family shelter, motel help, diversion, and coordinated entry. | Space and funding can change daily. |
| Long-term rent help | Local PHA and income-based apartments | Ask if voucher, public housing, or project-based lists are open. | Waitlists may be closed or long. |
| Security deposit | SDAP partner agencies | Ask whether you meet the local partner’s rules. | Funds are limited and not paid directly by SD Housing to families. |
| Utility shutoff or high heat bills | DSS Energy Assistance | Ask about heating help, crisis help, and weatherization. | Utility help may not cover all rent or non-heating bills. |
| Eviction court papers | UJS forms and legal aid | Ask how to file an answer and when the hearing is. | Deadlines can be short. Get help fast. |
Main housing programs and help paths
Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing
Housing Choice Vouchers, often called Section 8, can help eligible households rent in the private market when a voucher is available. Public housing is owned or managed by a public housing agency. South Dakota Housing says families apply for vouchers through a local housing authority or Public Housing Authority, and that not every county has a PHA. Use the HUD PHA list to find offices that serve your area.
Ask each office about every list it manages. Some offices have voucher lists, public housing, project-based units, or local preferences. Apply to more than one PHA if the rules allow it and you can realistically move to that area.
Income-based and affordable apartments
Not all affordable housing comes through a portable voucher. Some apartments have reduced rents or project-based rental help tied to the unit. The SD rental programs page explains several rental options, including project-based Section 8, HOME-funded properties, public housing, tenant-based vouchers, Housing Trust Fund units, and rural rental housing.
Use SDHousingSearch and the housing locators page to look for affordable apartments. When you call a property, ask whether it has open units, a waitlist, income limits, bedroom-size rules, and application fees.
Security Deposit Assistance Program
The South Dakota Security Deposit Assistance Program can help eligible renters secure affordable rental housing. SD Housing says renters must contact a participating local partner agency for help; individuals do not apply directly to SD Housing. The security deposit program page lists current partner agencies and explains that rules may vary by agency.
SD Housing says deposit help may be used in emergency situations, to prevent homelessness, to help people in transitional housing move into permanent housing, or to help low-income families move into a more affordable unit. The program page says assistance may not exceed more than one month’s rent and is first come, first served for low-income families with income at or below 60 percent of area median income.
Emergency shelter and homelessness prevention
South Dakota Housing administers Emergency Solutions Grants for providers, not as a direct application to every family. ESG can support emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, street outreach, HMIS, and related services through eligible organizations. The SD social programs page explains how this funding supports homelessness services.
For a family in crisis, the practical step is to call 211 and ask which local provider handles coordinated entry, shelter, rapid re-housing, or prevention in your county. If you are fleeing abuse, tell the 211 specialist that you need a confidential domestic violence shelter referral.
Community Action and utility help
Rent problems often come with utility bills, transportation trouble, and food needs. The South Dakota Department of Social Services says the Community Assistance program connects low-income South Dakotans with Community Action Programs. Services vary by agency and may include weatherization, transportation, food pantries, and emergency services.
For heating bills and weatherization, use the DSS energy assistance page. Heating help may be paid to the supplier, and weatherization can help lower future energy costs. If a utility shutoff is part of your housing crisis, ask DSS or your local Community Action agency what crisis help is open.
Section 811 disability housing
Some families include a parent or adult child with a qualifying disability. South Dakota’s Section 811 program provides project-based rental assistance for extremely low-income people with an intellectual or developmental disability, including some people with co-occurring mental illness. The program has detailed rules, including age, income, services, background, and property requirements.
If disability is part of the housing problem, also read ASMOM’s disability support guide and ask a case manager, support provider, or legal aid office what housing options may fit your situation.
USDA rural rental housing
Many South Dakota families live outside larger cities. USDA Rural Development has multifamily rental properties in many rural areas. Use the USDA rental search to look by state and contact the property manager directly. Ask whether the property serves families, has rental assistance, has open units, and accepts your household size.
How to apply without wasting time
There is no single statewide application that covers every rent program. Make a list and work it in order. Use one folder, paper or digital, for every housing application.
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call 211 if you are in crisis. | Emergency referrals change faster than websites. |
| 2 | Find all PHAs that serve your county or city. | Voucher and public housing lists are local. |
| 3 | Search affordable apartment locators. | Project-based units may have separate property waitlists. |
| 4 | Ask deposit partners before move-in. | Deposit help usually cannot fix a missed application deadline. |
| 5 | Keep proof of every call, email, and application. | You may need it if an office says it did not receive something. |
If you also need food, child care, or cash help while waiting, use the SNAP food help, child care help, and TANF help guides. These programs will not replace housing assistance, but they may free up money for rent.
Documents and information to gather
Different offices ask for different proof. Do not wait until every paper is perfect before calling for help, but start gathering these items as soon as you can.
| Document or information | Examples | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Photo ID, birth certificates, Social Security numbers if requested | Ask what is accepted if a document was lost. |
| Income | Pay stubs, benefit letters, child support proof, unemployment proof | Include proof of no income if the office asks for it. |
| Housing crisis | Eviction notice, late rent ledger, lease, shelter letter, doubled-up letter | Take photos or scans before handing papers over. |
| Household | Names, dates of birth, custody or school information | List everyone who will live in the home. |
| Rental details | Landlord name, property address, rent amount, deposit amount | Programs may need landlord forms before payment. |
Reality checks before you apply
Voucher lists can close. A property may have income limits but no open units. Deposit money may run out. A shelter may have no family space that night. A program may ask for documents more than once. This does not mean you did anything wrong.
Apply to more than one path at the same time: housing authorities, income-based apartments, rural rentals if you can live rural, deposit partners, 211, and Community Action. Keep your phone working if possible, check voicemail, and update every office if your address or phone number changes.
Eviction, tenant rights, and fair housing help
This section is general information, not legal advice. If you receive eviction papers, read them the same day. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System provides eviction forms, including tenant answer materials. A court deadline can be short, so call legal aid quickly.
Dakota Plains Legal provides free civil legal help to low-income people, older adults, and veterans in South Dakota and North Dakota, including tribal communities. If you are east of the Missouri River, also ask 211 whether another legal aid office serves your county.
The South Dakota Attorney General’s consumer page says landlord and tenant rights can come from federal law, state statutes, local rules, housing codes, common law, contracts, and court decisions, and that subsidized housing tenants may have added federal rights. Use the landlord-tenant page and SD Housing’s renters rights page to understand basic responsibilities before you call for help.
If you believe you were denied housing or treated worse because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or family status, you can contact the statewide Fair Housing Ombudsman through SD Housing or file a complaint with HUD using the fair housing form.
ASMOM also has a state guide to legal help and a safety-aware guide to domestic violence help.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for one program only. Apply to several housing paths because one waitlist may take too long.
- Missing mail or voicemail. A housing office may remove you from a list if it cannot reach you.
- Paying for a fake list. Use official housing authority, SD Housing, HUD, USDA, or known nonprofit sources.
- Ignoring eviction papers. Rent help and court papers are separate. Get legal help even if you are applying for rental help.
- Signing before asking about deposit help. Some deposit programs need approval before move-in.
Phone scripts
Calling 211
“Hi, I am a single mother in South Dakota with children. I need housing help. I am facing [eviction / homelessness / unsafe housing / no deposit]. Can you check shelter, coordinated entry, rent help, deposit help, and utility help in my county?”
Calling a housing authority
“Hi, do you serve my city or county? Are any voucher, public housing, or project-based waitlists open? What documents do I need, and can I apply online or by mail?”
Calling a deposit partner
“Hi, I found a rental I may be able to afford, but I cannot cover the full security deposit. Are you taking Security Deposit Assistance requests, and what do you need before move-in?”
Calling legal aid
“Hi, I was served with eviction papers or a notice from my landlord. My hearing date is [date], if listed. Can someone help me understand what I must file or bring to court?”
Backup options while you wait
Long-term housing help can take time. While you wait, ask 211 and Community Action about food, transportation, utility help, diapers, school supplies, and local charities. Ask your child’s school social worker or counselor about McKinney-Vento support if your family is in a shelter, motel, car, doubled-up home, or other unstable housing situation.
If the new place is empty and you need beds, basic household goods, or kitchen items, the free furniture guide can help you ask local groups the right questions. For utility bills, see ASMOM’s utility assistance guide. For local churches and nonprofits, see community support.
Resumen en español
Si necesita vivienda hoy en Dakota del Sur, llame al 2-1-1 para refugios, ayuda local y recursos de emergencia. Si hay violencia o peligro en casa, llame al 911 si es una emergencia o a la linea estatal de violencia domestica al 1-800-430-7233.
Para ayuda de renta a largo plazo, busque su autoridad local de vivienda, apartamentos con renta basada en ingresos y opciones rurales de USDA. Si ya encontro un apartamento pero no puede pagar el deposito, pregunte por el programa de ayuda para deposito de seguridad. Las reglas, fondos y listas de espera cambian, asi que confirme todo con la oficina oficial.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one South Dakota rent assistance application?
No. South Dakota housing help is split among housing authorities, affordable apartment properties, SD Housing programs, Community Action agencies, shelters, legal aid, and local nonprofits. Start with 211 for crisis referrals and apply separately for long-term housing programs.
Does Section 8 help single mothers first?
Section 8 is based on program rules such as income, household size, eligible immigration status, local preferences, and waitlist status. Some housing authorities may have preferences, but being a single mother alone does not guarantee faster approval.
Can South Dakota help with a security deposit?
Possibly. South Dakota’s Security Deposit Assistance Program works through local partner agencies. It is for eligible renters and is limited by local rules and funding. Contact the partner agency in your area before move-in.
What should I do if I get eviction papers?
Read the papers right away, note the court date, contact legal aid, and use the South Dakota Unified Judicial System tenant forms if you need to respond. Applying for rent help does not automatically stop a court case.
Can I use housing help if I live in a rural area?
Yes, but options may be spread out. Check USDA rural rental listings, Community Action agencies, SDHousingSearch, 211, and any housing authority that serves your county or nearby cities.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 19, 2026, next review August 19, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.