Sioux Falls OKs $4M funding package to create affordable housing units

Initiative characterized as a test run ahead of developing long-term strategy

The city of Sioux Falls will invest millions over the next two years to bolster affordable housing stock for people who might not qualify for traditional housing assistance but find themselves priced out of the market.

City Councilors on Tuesday night passed a $4 million funding package they hope will help the Sioux Falls planning office's housing division establish a long-term vision for addressing housing shortages within the city for low-income earners while quickly getting more units on the market.

But exactly how many new or rehabilitated units the initiative will create during the program isn't known.

"The focus of the appropriation this evening is to get money authorized in the housing fund and say how many units can this create over the next two years," said Councilor Rich Merkouris, the lead sponsor of the measure that came at the recommendation of a homeless task force put together by Mayor Paul TenHaken's office last year.

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