WATERTOWN, S.D. (KELO) — Homelessness is an issue across the state of South Dakota. While it may be more apparent in larger cities, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist everywhere you go.
While you may not see homeless people on the streets of Watertown, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a homeless population in the city.
“It’s just really a hidden homeless problem. So we have people living in cars, people hopping from couch to couch and staying in places that they shouldn’t, that aren’t habitable, like campers without electricity,” Watertown Cares Board Member, Sarah Foust said.
Because of this, Watertown Cares was born. The nonprofit offers emergency short-term housing for people without homes.
“Watertown Cares is intended to give people a roof over their heads and then the support that they need to be able to find secure permanent housing and really be able to get on their feet and move forward with that,” Foust said.
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“Once we house them, usually between 30 and 90 days, we get them permanently housed. We’re still continuing case management with them after the fact so that we’re continuing to work on those goals and keep them permanently housed,” Watertown Cares Executive Director, Beth Lalim said.
They have 8 units available, and since opening in September of 2023, the nonprofit has always had a waitlist of at least 20, and as many as 40 households.
The organization is gearing up for an event on Monday. It’s called the S.O.S. Campaign, which stands for Sam off the Streets.Sam is a board member.
“We’re going to set up a one-person pop-up tent in the parking lot of Dakota Land Federal Credit Union. And I’m going to hang out there for 72 hours. And then for every thousand dollars that gets donated, then it’ll shave off an hour off my time,” Watertown Cares Board Member, Sam Mooney said.
No matter how much money comes in, Sam Mooney plans to stay out for a minimum of 36 hours.
“He’s going to go live every once in a while as he feels compelled to share. And he just really wants to have some sense of what it might feel like for our community members that are sleeping in tents, sleeping in their cars, sleeping in campers.” Lalim said.
There are 3 things Sam wants to come from this experience, and 2 of them have already started happening.
“Now I just hope that since we’ve raised awareness and we’re currently in the process of raising funds, that we can check the biggest box and that’s to, you know, start changing some lives. And that’s the hope when it’s all said and done,” Mooney said.
Click here to stay up to date with SOS: Sam off the Streets or to donate to Watertown Cares.
