South Dakota

The state's housing agency; offers help for homebuyers and homeowners in trouble, plus affordable rental programs across the state.

Community action agency serving much of the state with emergency housing help, home repair, and financial counseling for families in a tight spot.

Call 2-1-1 to be connected to local rent assistance, homeless services, and shelter openings in your county.

Monthly cash help for families with children while you get back on your feet; apply through the Department of Social Services.

Helps West River families with emergency needs, energy assistance, and household basics.

Free and low-cost counseling to deal with past-due bills, debt collectors, and budgeting when money is short.

Sanford hospitals and clinics can reduce or forgive bills for patients who can't afford to pay; ask any billing office for a "financial assistance" (charity care) application.

Avera hospitals offer charity care and payment plans; call the number on your bill and ask about financial assistance before paying anything.

Helps pay heating bills in winter and can weatherize your home for free to lower future bills; apply through DSS.

Payment plans and assistance options if you're behind on your Black Hills Energy bill; call before you get a shutoff notice.

Monthly grocery money on an EBT card; you can apply online, by mail, or at your local DSS office.

The statewide food bank; runs food pantries and mobile food distributions in every corner of the state, no questions asked.

Healthy food, formula, and nutrition support for pregnant women, new moms, and kids under 5.

Free or very low-cost health coverage for adults with low incomes (expanded in 2023), kids, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

Where South Dakotans shop for insurance plans; most people who apply qualify for discounts that make coverage much cheaper.

Community health centers across rural South Dakota offering medical, dental, and mental health care on a sliding fee scale — you pay what you can afford.

Call or text 988 to reach a trained South Dakota counselor any time you're overwhelmed, in crisis, or worried about someone.

State resource hub with local crisis contacts, support after a loss, and ways to help someone who is struggling.

Find state-funded mental health and substance use treatment; help is available even if you can't pay.

Helps low-income working parents pay for daycare so you can keep your job or finish school.

Statewide family support: counseling, kinship care help, parenting programs, and services for new parents.

Free job search help, training programs, and local job service offices across the state.

South Dakota's name for unemployment insurance; file your claim online as soon as you lose work.

Job training, equipment, and support for people with disabilities who want to work.

Free civil legal help (evictions, benefits denials, family law) for low-income people in eastern South Dakota; call 1-800-952-3015.

Free legal aid for western South Dakota and tribal communities; call 1-800-658-2297.

Plain-language legal information and forms for South Dakotans, plus a guide to getting free legal help.

Low-cost immigration legal services, interpretation, and support for refugees and immigrants in South Dakota.