Simplified: It started as a thought experiment. Local chef and business owner Rudy Navarrete said he was lying in bed one day just thinking about what it might be like if someone was dropped off on 8th Street in Sioux Falls with nothing – how would a person survive? Now, over a year later, Navarrete is preparing to debut a new, local documentary called "24 Hours on 8th Street" at the State Theatre later this month.

Why it matters

  • Navarrete teamed up with local videographer Everett Palmer, to test out his thought experiment. Their documentary follows Navarrete and a team of volunteers spending 24 hours on 8th Street in Sioux Falls as they try to both get a sense of what it must feel like to be unhoused and capture firsthand experience from the folks living it.
  • The goal is to start a conversation. Navarrete said he hopes, at minimum, the documentary helps destigmatize homelessness, and beyond that the hope is that people walk away "inspired to get involved."
  • The hour-long documentary debuts at the State Theatre next week, with an invite-only showing on Wednesday evening followed by a public release Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21-22.
"We want anybody that watches this to see that there's something they can do within their capacity," Palmer said. "There's just such a wide range of ways you can get involved."

Tell me more

Palmer and Navarrete set out to film the documentary with some key goals in mind.

  • First, they wanted to make sure they were letting the story come to them, not forcing any specific narrative or opinion.
  • Second, they wanted to only feature individuals who approached them first. The idea wasn't to shove a camera in someone's face and ask them to tell their story. Rather, Navarrete said, they waited for people to come and ask them what they were working on, and inviting them to be a part of it.

The duo, along with some volunteers, filmed for 24 hours straight on a Sunday last August, meeting with folks who are unhoused and sleeping on the grass in Drake Springs park. They then spent the following months filming interviews to capture the full picture of how homelessness is addressed in the community.

  • In total, they filmed interviews with more than two dozen community leaders, including local government officials like Police Chief Jon Thum, as well as nonprofit leaders like Julie Becker, executive director of the St. Francis House.
"I wanted to make sure there was no finger-pointing, to keep politics out of it – just to show the good work these agencies are doing," Navarrete said.

You can see a preview of the documentary here:

How can I watch the documentary?

You've got two chances to see it at the State Theatre, and all ticket proceeds will be donated to a local nonprofit.

  • Friday, Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
    • Find tickets here – proceeds from this showing support the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House.
  • Saturday, Aug. 22 at 4 p.m.
    • Find tickets here – proceeds from this showing support Midwest Street Medicine.