Simplified: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls celebrates a significant milestone Friday with the dedication of its 200th home in the area since the organization started 35 years ago. Sioux Falls Simplified chatted with the new homeowners as well as Executive Director Rocky Welker about what's next.
Why it matters
- Habitat for Humanity helps connect people with safe, affordable housing through construction and renovation projects. The Homeownership program helps people build their own homes, learn how to maintain them and learn how to manage finances to ensure they keep them.
- The impact of the programming is generational. Welker estimates as many as 1,000 kids have grown up in a Habitat home in the Sioux Falls area, and this week's dedication adds two more to that number – Dalonda Dalin's 6- and 8-year-old daughters.
- Dalin will share the twin home with neighbor Vickie Randall, who's worked herself from a place of homelessness to homeownership in part with Habitat's help.
- The twin homes are one of Habitat's pivots over the years to increase housing density as land becomes harder and harder to acquire in Sioux Falls, Welker said. Looking to the next 200 homes, that higher density is going to continue to be important.
"In my opinion homeownership has always been kind of the cornerstone of the American dream," Welker said. "But housing is a bigger issue now than it's ever been in our community. When we first started, a home was less than $30,000. Now a Habitat home is appraising for more than $300,000."
Tell me more about the new homeowners
Dalin said she'd never have thought to apply for the program if someone hadn't suggested she look into it. Now, she's one of the most vocal advocates for people to apply.
"I've already talked to people who are also single moms to say, 'Just take that step," Dalin said. "Be daring enough to ask the questions, don't ever think that you won't qualify because you never know."
For Randall, Friday's home dedication is a full-circle moment. In the past, she owned a home with her husband, but when the couple fell on hard times she found herself in a period of experiencing homelessness before finding her current one-bedroom apartment.
- She said she's benefitted greatly from Habitat providing not only a home, but also the education and tools to keep it.
"They work with you every step of the way," Randall said. "They provide classes and information, tools for you to be successful. It really gives you the confidence to continue. It's just such a blessing."
What happens next?
For Habitat as an organization, the next big goal is to find another piece of land to develop into a neighborhood of affordable homes, Welker said.
In addition to the Homeownership program, Habitat also works with dozens of homeowners each year to do repairs through its Neighborhood Revitalization Program.
Want to help? Welker said the best way to get involved is to start by reaching out. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer or donate.
"I think people support Habitat because they know it's not a handout type program," Welker said. "It's a program that gives people a once in a lifetime opportunity to create generational change."
Want to apply for the Homeownership program? Applications are currently open. Learn more here.
