ICAP Programs > Housing Services

    Some homeless families have needs much greater than any single source of assistance can address. These families, in addition to needing a place to live, also have needs for help with food, employment or education, medical treatment, and a wide variety of other needs. Heartland House, ICAP's transitional housing program for homeless families with children, was created to help those families. In order to be eligible, the family must be homeless and must commit to the fulfillment of a family self-sufficiency plan, which details the family's goals for itself. Heartland House consists of three apartment buildings, located in Sioux Falls, and Family Case Managers, who provide intensive case management to the participating families. The families pay rent, based on their income. ICAP sets aside part of the rent payments in a savings account for each family, and the family can use those funds for assistance in moving into permanent housing when they graduate from the program. Maximum capacity for the program is 35 families at any given time.

Donation Wish List - Items of need at Heartland House. Donations are accepted on Fridays.

Contact Information

Tammie Denning Heartland House / Minnehaha County Director 505 N. Western Avenue Sioux Falls SD 57104 605-334-2808  tdenning@interlakescap.com

Homeless Rent/Deposit Assistance

    There are many homeless persons and families in ICAP's 12-county service area, primarily in Sioux Falls but also in other cities in the area. ICAP operates a rent/security deposit assistance program to assist eligible persons to enter permanent housing. The applicant must be actually homeless, according to the McKinney Act description of homelessness, and must provide proof that he/she has some steady and reliable source of income (either wages/salary from a job or receipt of funds from a public assistance program). The programs will pay all or a portion of the applicant's first month's rent and/or security deposit (depending on the amount needed), either alone or in conjunction with another funder (e.g. Salvation Army, County Welfare, etc.). In addition, the applicant must also agree to receive protective payee/ case management services to increase the likelihood that he/she will be able to stay in the new housing. CSBG funds are used for this assistance throughout the service area, and ICAP also receives funding from the Sioux Falls Community Development Department under the HOME program for further services in the City of Sioux Falls. The applicant is responsible for repayment of the security deposit if he/she leaves the housing and the landlord does not return the deposit to ICAP.

Housing Repair/Rehabilitation

    ICAP delivers a repair and accessibility modification program for the homes of eligible persons and families. The HOME Rehabilitation program is funded by the South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) with HOME program funds allocated to the state by HUD. These HOME funds are used throughout the service area except the City of Sioux Falls, and are made available to eligible persons/families on a zero-interest, five-year decreasing balance loan, as long as the homeowners remains eligible for the program. HOME funds can be used for accessibility modifications for persons with disabilities, in addition to making necessary repairs for health, safety and code compliance.

In many of the smaller cities and rural areas that ICAP serves, residents have identified housing rehabilitation as a need. Oftentimes homeowners either cannot find a contractor to work on their home or they cannot afford the cost of materials and labor. ICAP staff, in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency, have created a Self-Help Rehabilitation program as a national pilot project in order to try to find a way to assist homeowners. Eligible participants work with program staff to identify their specific needs and to create a work plan. The Program Coordinator finds the best funding sources available to the homeowners and assists them throughout the process. The Program Representative provides hands-on instruction and assistance to the homeowner and his/her helpers, so that they can provide all or part of the labor required. The program is available throughout the entire service area. Interested parties can contact the Program Coordinator for more information.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice),
or (202) 720-6382 (TDD)."

Contact Information

Dana Whitehouse Housing Rehab Programs Manager 601 4th Street Suite 108 Brookings SD 57006 605-692-6391  dwhitehouse@interlakescap.com

Mutual Self-Help Housing

    The Mutual Self-Help Housing Program started in Brookings in 1996, with the first homes constructed in 1997. The Watertown project started in 1997, with the first homes completed in 1998. Since that time, the program has expanced to cover the service area and has assisted 100 participants in building new, affordable high-quality homes.  ICAP, as grant recipient and project manager, locates families interested in participating in the program and assists them in establishing their eligibility for a home loan from USDA-Rural Development or another suitable lender. When a group of participants (usually 4 to 5 households) is formed, they all work together to build homes for all of the group members. ICAP contracts with a construction supervisor to work with the home-builders and teach them the various skills they need in order to construct their homes. In addition, ICAP has received funds from the Housing Assistance Council under the Self-help Housing Opportunities Program (SHOP) to use in developing building lots for participants in the Self-Help Housing program.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice),
or (202) 720-6382 (TDD)."

Contact Information

Dana Whitehouse Self Help Housing Program Manager 601 4th Street Suite 108 Brookings SD 57006 605-692-6391  dwhitehouse@interlakescap.com

Tenant Education and Self-Sufficiency Program (TESS)

    The TESS Program was created in 2004 under Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson's leadership. It is a comprehensive program targeted to assist income-eligible families with children whose unfavorable rental experiences have put them at risk of becoming homeless. The program was made possible by a collaborative effort of many community leaders representing public, private, and non-profit organizations. The TESS Program provides education and individualized case management to its participants so that they can acquire and maintain decent and safe dwellings. It also features incentives to landlords to help families who are looking for rental housing. The program consists of two components - TESS-D and TESS-R.  TESS-D features a Damage Repair Guarantee Fund. In the event that a TESS program participant damages the property of an eligible landlord, the landlord can request reimbursement ($2,000 maximum) from the fund to repair the property. The TESS-R program allows the landlord to request reimbursement (one month's rent maximum) in the event that a program participant defaults on rent and the eviction process has started.  Having access to the Fund serves as a safety net for property owners.

Homebuyer Education

    Persons in Lake County who wish to purchase a home, but do not know how to begin the process, can take advantage of the Home-Buyer Education (HBE) program. Participants work one-on-one with the Lake County Housing Coordinator, who guides them through program materials dealing with such issues as personal money management, credit worthiness, home financing options, shopping for a home, homeownership and avoiding predatory lenders. ICAP’s HBE program is certified by the Homeownership Education Resource Organization (HERO), which provides ICAP with standards to assure that the HBE program is of the highest possible quality.

Contact Information

Kristen Reese Lake County Housing Coordinator 111 N Van Eps Ave Madison SD 57042 605-256-6518  kreese@interlakescap.com

To find out more about these programs or if you would like to become involved please contact us at our administrative office in Madison, or contact your local satellite office.

Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership 111 N Van Eps Madison, SD 57042 PO Box 268
Phone: 605.256.6518 Fax: 605.256.2238 cbarry@interlakescap.com