Each homeless individual who walks through our doors have their own story to tell and set of circumstances that led them to become unhoused. Some individuals, such as Krista and her two children, just need a place to land for a couple weeks to save up for a security deposit. Other individuals may be dealing with severe mental health or addiction issues and require an intensive and collaborative approach to ensure they get the support and services they need to move forward with their lives.
This is where our Case Management team comes in. They work directly with individuals to identify what barriers must be overcome, help with navigation of the system, and advocate for individuals to get access to food, housing, and security.
With the growing number of homeless individuals within Sioux Falls, our shelter nears capacity every night and reaches capacity every winter night. Bishop Dudley Hospitality House is more than a temporary, emergency shelter for individuals to stay to seek safety from the streets. BDHH is a place to start for many of these individuals, and we have made it a priority to increase our case management to increase our impact and move more people out of homelessness and into security.
So who are these miracle workers that change people’s lives and futures? Meet our Case Managers.
For nearly a decade, Anna has worked with the unhoused across the Dakotas in a variety of roles. For over two years, she has worked at the Bishop Dudley as a Check-In Supervisor, Community Health Worker, and Case Manager. Anna is often the first person our guests interact with when they come through our doors every night. She has helped hundreds of individuals receive their ID’s and documents, a necessary step to obtain a job and begin to save, along with improving policies and procedures. Of her job, she says “Helping the unhoused with the compassion and respect they deserve is paramount to helping them leverage themselves to a better spot. To be a part of that journey for any client is an honor.”
Lisa has always had a passion for helping the underserved and using her voice to advocate for the underserved. Lisa has just passed one year at the Bishop Dudley as our Women’s Program Manager, and says the job ‘fits like a glove’. After running her own daycare and helping individuals access benefits at the SD Department of Social Services, she came to the Bishop Dudley House to take on a more direct and comprehensive part in our guest’s journeys to self-sufficiency. Lisa helps our women to access benefits, secure jobs, begin saving, and overcome other barriers to housing.
On the other side of the shelter, our Men’s Program Manager Edgar works with the hundreds of men we serve each year. From Flandreau Indian School to McCrossan Boy’s Ranch to Sioux Falls Housing, Edgar has worked a variety of places and seen the need for collaboration. Most recently a Patient Advocate at Avera, Edgar utilizes his knowledge of Native American culture and ability to speak Spanish to connect with our guests make them realize and reach their potential.
Our Community Health Worker Lynne helps guests overcome physical and mental health barriers. Over her eight years at the Bishop Dudley, Lynne has built trust with our guests through her ability to listen and proactive approach to personal health. These relationships and her community-focused approach has allowed Lynne to help hundreds of individuals get the support they need to take charge of their own health.
Our newest member of the team, our Family Coordinator Cathy was born and raised in Sioux Falls. She has seen the city boom in population and the increase in need for shelter and services for the less fortunate. Cathy works with our families to make certain guardians have the resources they need to create stability for their children. She has already transitioned multiple families into their own housing and says, “It is very rewarding to help the people we encounter at the Bishop Dudley. The look on their faces when they move into their own place is priceless and make the challenges seem less.”