Emergency Shelter
76% of those experiencing homelessness in our region report being Native American. Wambli Ska is driven to establish a shelter to meet the needs of the people.
Supplementing Shelter Capacity
South Dakota winters are extremely harsh and we have lost many local relatives to the unbearable conditions. The current shelter capacity within Rapid City cannot support the number of neighbors in need.
During the winter of 2021, Wambli Ska opened a temporary emergency shelter using the church located on campus. Outreach staff and volunteers not only provided for the basic necessities, but also assisted participants with connecting to services that could offer longer-term solutions.
Emergency Shelter Impact:
100 additional shelter beds provided
Meals served three times a day to 200 people
Connected participants to services
Future Plans
Our vision is to purchase a local hotel and use it for both emergency shelter and transitional housing. The shelter would serve people currently struggling with addictions (wet beds) and those who are sober or in recovery (dry beds). The transitional housing would offer affordable efficiency apartments designated for individuals who are actively receiving services for the barriers to their stability.