Homelessness is surging nationwide

RAPID CITY – A request by He Sapa Community Alliance to set up a warming shelter at the First Presbyterian Church on Kansas City Street, just a few doors down from where the Hope Center had been originally located, was denied.

A program of He Sapa Community Alliance (HSCA), the Common Grace Warming Center is a faith-based ministry, with a vision to provide warm, safe shelter during the coldest months for those in the community who have no shelter. They were seeking to provide overnight shelter from October to April for anyone who might need it.

The Planning Commission denied the conditional use permit, stating that despite being a warming shelter, it still falls under the definition of a ‘mission’ in the land use definitions, as it is a non-profit providing food and shelter. It would also be within the central business district and be near two principal arterial roads –Mount Rushmore Road and St. Joseph Street.

Currently, the primary use of the church is for Sunday services as well as Sunday school and some other uses. There is a homeschool program that operates between 9a.m. and 4p.m. Other uses include a local choir rehearsal committee, ministry meetings, Bible study, 12-step programs and occasional funeral services and other events. The proposed warming shelter would operate outside of the church hours with perhaps some overlap with the 12-step programs.

During a presentation, planning staff explained that the intake would be at 5:30 p.m., which would include an assessment, but it would be low barrier, meaning minimal restrictions, and would include intoxicated clients. HSCA would provide three employees including a security guard, for intake and release as well as three to six additional volunteers for meal services at 6p.m.and 7a.m. prior to client departure from the facility at 8a.m. The shelter would serve 10 to 20 people per night, prioritizing women, women with children and families. There would be a cleanup crew twice a day. While there is a kitchen in the facility it would not be used to prepare the food. If they did want to serve food in the future they would need to make upgrades.

Due to the number of people using the facility overnight, another stipulation of approval requires a fire suppression and alarm system to be installed before use.

Staff did not provide a recommendation of approval because they said there are issues that can’t be mitigated like intoxication and loitering outside of business hours which could potentially interfere with tourist activities.

“This is really hard. There is a great effort by those that are trying to help those that are unhoused during our coldest months,” said Planning Manager Vicki Fisher. “We all recognize that.” But she said the location meets the definition of a ‘mission’ which is a conditional use in the central business district, not a permitted use, because it’s not appropriate at all locations. They also look at the operational plan to find if the operational plan mitigates any negative impacts that might be imposed upon the neighborhood. “When we looked at this specific location and when we looked at the operational plan, we could not bring you a recommendation to approve,” she told the Commission. “I know we have laid it before you today primarily because we wanted the applicants to be able to speak to you directly and we wanted the neighborhood to also have a voice, so you can gather all that information as you are making your decision.”

She said they had concerns about allowing intoxicated clients to enter the facility. Judging from past experience she said many clients will enter the neighborhood early. “If they’re intoxicated, that will have an impact on area property owners.” She also said there were concerns about clients loitering as kids are arriving and departing. “Most importantly though, when we look at our downtown area, this in particular is an area of some high-end commercial and outreach cultural activities. It’s also a very high pedestrian area as well as an area that experiences a lot of tourism.”

Seth Malott, friend of the church, spoke in favor of the warming center and said the alternative is that they would be on the streets anyway. “At least three volunteers would ensure that they will not be getting intoxicated while they are sheltering. When it comes to allowing these individuals shelter and food, it is an important service in this community. I don’t know what the alternative is. I know that resources are limited. I know that our mayor, who is a friend of mine and who I respect, also feels that the government should phase out of this obligation and that’s an opinion I differ from. I don’t know what else we can do, outside of churches opening up. Maybe open up our homes or do nothing. I’m not okay with that.”

Malott pointed out that the city had recently voted in favor of maintaining early morning hour liquor sales, because the changes would have a significant impact on a local liquor store. “I think there’s a bit of cognitive dissonance within our government. In August we had considered changing the hours for selling liquor from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. We heard testimony from doctors, police and fire and we even heard from a mother who had lost her son to a drunk driver at 7:30 a.m. But I think the point was made by the owner of Mr. Liquor who was concerned about his loss of sales and the inconvenience that it would be to him. Ultimately, the council voted in favor of keeping liquor sales at 7 a.m. and the argument was that government should not impede free commerce.”

Clark Kraemer from Ketel Thorstenson said they are concerned with what he described as heavy foot traffic already. Many other businesses in the downtown area opposed the warming shelter as well.

Pastor Adam Knudsen from the First Presbyterian Church said the congregation has been at the corner of 7th and Kansas City for more than 125 years. “Now we have to ask you for permission to what we feel God has called us to do, to serve the least of these. What we’re asking is the ability to get some people off the street.” He said there are services in the city but there are gaps.

Lila Mehlhoff the Executive Director from the He Sapa Community Alliance who has proposed to run the program for the warming center said, as a business owner, she understands the concerns of other businesses. “The reason we proposed the warming center is it has been a proven model. We are going to create a culture of gratitude. The Relatives will know that this is for them. We are going to ask them, teach them, and instill in them the understanding that this is something we want them to care for and understand that we are doing this for them.” She said the loitering would be managed by two staff members and a security guard.

Amy Richie, the Administrator for the Volunteers of America – Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition (VOA), said that over the last few years numerous organizations have tried to do something and have been denied for one reason or another. “I would submit to you no matter what happens, if we don’t do something, the homeless population is going to continue to grow. If not there, where?” She asked. “It has to be somewhere, and it has been years of people trying to find a proper location, to do the proper thing, provide a warming center and save lives in the wintertime. Things are continually denied. Don’t get me wrong. I understand the business perspective and people who live in that neighborhood. There are things they have to deal with due to our homeless population. But the hope is, if we provide them with a place to be, that is safe and warm, that they won’t be in your back alley, that they won’t be camping in your parking lot or your backyard or sleeping in your boat or garage. That’s the goal, to provide a safe place for people to be, to stay warm and not freeze to death.”

She addressed the low barrier issue and said that is the problem. “We do have locations where people who are sober can go. We do not have a safe, respectable place for people that are under the influence to go. I feel like our city doesn’t understand our services when I hear mention of One Heart. You can’t just knock on their door and ask for a place to sleep.”

She said the city should do a better job to educate the public about what the services are, and where the gaps are, “and this is one way to do that.”

Richie said everybody has their own concerns for their own reasons whether it’s a private residence or a business. “I think a lot of them are valid on all sides of the problem.” But she said a solution needs to be found. “It’s been several years of talking about things, solutions are proposed and then projects are denied. I think people need to come to some hard realizations that homelessness is growing.” She said services must be expanded. “There are gaps in services that are causing some of these problems.” She said nothing will change and residents will continue to find unsheltered people in their backyards unless the problem is addressed. “It needs to be a joint effort between businesses, government, community members – it will take everybody from the person living alone far away from the problem to the person who is living on the street.”

Currently, there are a little over 400 homeless individuals in Rapid City. The Point In Time Count (PIT) is scheduled for January 28th. “Last year the count was down a little bit, but I attribute that to the closing of the Hope Center, so we weren’t able to find people in the usual places.” Richie said the day of the count they will be at all the community meals. They will have food outside of VOA from 10 a.m.to 3p.m. “We are really pushing toward trying to get an accurate count. Accuracy is key.” She said they will never be able to count every homeless person.

This year, Richie said they have groups that are also counting at Pine Ride and Cheyenne River reservations. “We’re hoping Rosebud will participate, because there’s a huge issue in those tribal areas as well. This isn’t just a Rapid City problem. Nationwide, the homeless population is growing exponentially.”

Federal officials in late December reported a surge in homelessness in 2024, an increase of 18.1 percent which Housing and Urban Development blames on soaring rent and the end of pandemic assistance.

Volunteers are needed for the PIT Count. Interested people can contact the Volunteers of America – Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition (VOA).

(Contact Marnie Cook at cookm8715@gmail.com)

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