The South Dakota Affordability Project is a statewide civic research initiative led by ONEnetwork to better understand how housing costs and broader cost-of-living pressures are affecting everyday life across South Dakota.

As communities grow and change, questions around affordability, housing access, and long-term stability are becoming more central to how people make decisions about work, family, and where they live. This project exists to move beyond assumptions and headlines by collecting direct input from residents and examining how these pressures are actually being experienced on the ground.

 

Through a combination of anonymous surveys, data analysis, and follow-up reporting, the South Dakota Affordability Project aims to identify patterns across major cities, mid-sized communities, and rural areas. Rather than advancing a predetermined conclusion, the focus is on documenting lived realities and providing clear, accessible information that can inform public discussion.

 

This project is not an academic study or government report. It is a public-interest effort designed to give residents, community leaders, and local organizations a clearer picture of affordability challenges and opportunities across the state.

At its core, the South Dakota Affordability Project asks a simple but important question: Can people still afford to build stable lives in the communities they call home?