Simplified: It's been five years since The Link triage center opened in downtown Sioux Falls. And while the facility has helped thousands of people facing active addiction or mental health crises, it's also consistently operating as much as $1 million in the red. Here's a look at how The Link is looking to the future.
Why it matters
- The Link opened in the spring of 2021 as a partnership between the city of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, Sanford Health and Avera Health. Right now, it's funded by all four of those entities, in addition to some philanthropic gifts and grants. Even with those funding sources, The Link's operational expenses outpace revenues leaving between a $700,000 and $1 million annual funding gap.
- Since opening, the Link has helped more than 4,700 people in crisis – more than 70% of whom are unhoused. And while the facility is there for the immediate needs like detox, medically monitored withdrawal, and simply being a safe place for someone in a mental health crisis – the ultimate goal is to "link" people to services that support their long-term health.
- Late last year, the board of directors for The Link hired Jason Lemke to serve as a project director. Lemke is tasked with restructuring the board to make it more operations-focused, and he's also looking at long-term financial sustainability for the triage center.
"There's no greater investment this community has made to battle homelessness," Mayor Paul TenHaken said of The Link.
Tell me more
Most of The Link's $2.5 million annual operational expenses are related to staffing, Lemke said.
- Additionally, the costs of care often aren't covered by insurance, and services like Medicaid are "not super friendly" when it comes to covering treatments for substance use disorder, he added.
"The reality is most folks we see don't have insurance and don't have the means to pay," Lemke said.
But The Link is also saving the community money in many ways.
- Last year, folks were able to go to The Link instead of jail 943 times. That saved the county an estimated $250,000, Lemke said.
- Additionally, there were 689 referrals from emergency departments at local hospitals – freeing up beds for other patients and saving the health systems money.
And, The Link has become a resource connecting people to assistance who wouldn't seek it anywhere else. Per self-reported data from Link patients, more than 2,000 individuals last year who sought help said they wouldn't have sought help elsewhere.
What happens next?
TenHaken said The Link board will still have representation from all four of the founding groups: Sanford, Avera, the city and the county. But those board seats will be transitioned to people who are closer to the operations of The Link.
Lemke's role started in December, and is currently in a 12-month contract position.
