There were 32,882 homeless veterans reported in the U.S. in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

That number includes veterans who were unsheltered (42%), living in an emergency shelter (30%), or living in transitional housing (28%) such as organizations like the Veterans Community Project of Sioux Falls (VCP).

“We are a transitional housing program for at-risk or homeless veterans,” said Kaelyn Giefer, director of development at the VCP. “The goal is to get them back up on their feet, give them wraparound services, help them in all areas of their life, and then transition them back out into the community to permanent housing.”

The nonprofit organization, which consists of a 25-unit tiny home village and its Village Center, broke ground in northwest Sioux Falls in 2022.

“Our long-term goal is that we end veteran homelessness in the Sioux Falls area,” Kaelyn said, “and even beyond.”

Achieving such a goal, you might say, takes a village.

But with the help of donors, volunteers, and other local organizations, the VCP is doing more than just providing a place to live; they’re helping veterans rebuild their lives.

Meeting veterans where they’re at

“We serve veterans all over the Sioux Falls area with the residential program, where we’re actually moving them into our homes,” Kaelyn said. “We also have an outreach component, where we’re meeting veterans out in the community and helping them with different resources as well.”

The VCP receives resident referrals from other shelters in town like the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House and the Union Gospel Mission. They also work closely with and receive referrals from the local Veterans Affairs.

Sometimes, they have what they call “self-referrals,” where a veteran will walk through the doors and ask for help.

Regardless of how or why someone comes to the village, that veteran will receive services tailored to their unique situation.

“We’re able to take veterans at whatever stage of life they’re in and help all of them,” Kaelyn said. “Everybody comes with different trauma, different pasts, and different challenges that they’re facing, and we’re able to work with each individual veteran to help figure out their best success plan.”

For Kaelyn, reuniting veterans with their families is one of the most rewarding aspects of what the VCP does.

“We’ve got veterans that move in and have lost contact with their families, but as they begin to gain that stability, they’ve been able to reconnect with their families,” she said. “I’m a big family person, so that’s been really cool to be able to see the joy that brings people.”

Ending veteran homelessness in Sioux Falls

Eventually, the VCP will have 25 tiny homes in its village.

Ten are already complete, with eight of them occupied. As for the other two: veterans have moved out of them, and the VCP is getting the houses ready for new tenants.

Five houses are under construction but nearly complete, while the final 10 have yet to be built.

According to Kaelyn, volunteers are key to building the houses and, ultimately, fulfilling the organization’s mission.

“We’re always in need of volunteers to come help with everything from construction of the tiny homes, to furnishing the homes, to admin duties, to helping with events,” she said.

Recently, a group of First National Bank volunteers spent an afternoon touching up paint on the five houses currently under construction.

Our work included painting trim and doors on the outside of the houses and ceilings and doors on the inside.

“Anytime you have the opportunity to help veterans in the community, you have to do that,” said Deposit Operations Manager Scott Hirsch.

Scott is a veteran himself, having served 10 years in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.

He was a member of the 1742nd Transportation Company and the 2nd, 361st Training Support Battalion in Sioux Falls.

“When you think about why we’re here and why they’re here, it goes a lot deeper than painting a house,” he said. “Taking four hours out of your afternoon to come and do something for our veterans is easy to do.”

In addition to volunteering, we have supported the VCP by sponsoring one of the tiny homes and holding a donation drive to furnish a home.

“First National Bank was one of our very first partners that we had in the Sioux Falls community and stepped up to be a house sponsor before we even had any local staff,” Kaelyn said.

Our sponsored house at the VCP, which is nearing completion.

Supporting the Veterans Community Project’s mission

Ending veteran homelessness in Sioux Falls can’t happen without support from the broader community.

For those who are passionate about the VCP’s mission, Kaelyn offers plenty of ways to get involved.

“If you’re ever looking to volunteer, we always love all of the volunteers,” she said. “Financially, as well — we are a privately funded organization, so we rely solely on donations from the community. Every dollar that you donate helps us keep the lights on, pay for the utilities for the homes, furnish the homes, and everything in between.”

Lastly, something as simple as word of mouth can make a large impact for the organization.

“We’re still a newer organization in town,” Kaelyn said, “so the more you can talk about Veterans Community Project to your friends and family to pique their interest, the better.”

She added, “We’re always happy to invite people out and give them a tour, because we want to make sure that everybody in our community knows about this project.”

The broader VCP organization has five total locations across the country and recently broke ground on a sixth in Glendale, Arizona.

But helping the more than 30,000 homeless veterans in the U.S. starts with making a difference right here in our community.

“I hope we continue to make an impact in the Sioux Falls community,” Kaelyn said, “and that we also be a connector piece. I hope that we can kind of be that central point for all the veteran resources within Sioux Falls, to make sure that we help our veterans the best we can.”

When you bank with a local organization like ours, you can feel good knowing your money goes back to supporting our communities. Find your new checking or savings account with us!