Author: Jadeyn Sjaarda

We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Stronghold ICF to build a twin home in our Millard Acres development. The partnership through The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) Build with Strength coalition is part of a wider initiative to construct 50 sustainable concrete homes in 50 states. Stronghold ICF is generously donating all the insulated concrete form (ICF) block for the twin home which will be sold to future homebuyers in our Homeownership program at the end of 2026.

“Stronghold ICF is proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity on the Sioux Falls, SD build,” says Terry Thue, sales representative for Stronghold ICF. “This project represents more than construction—it’s an opportunity to invest in the community while educating current and future homeowners on the long-term benefits of ICF construction. From superior strength and durability to enhanced energy efficiency, comfort, and resilience, ICF homes provide lasting value for families for generations to come.”

ICF is a sustainable, noncombustible concrete building system that reduces upfront expenses and on-site construction time while maximizing the structure’s durability and energy performance. We’ve utilized ICF for each of the 13 twin homes in our Millard Acres development. After Millard Acres is complete, we plan to continue using the ICF building system on future projects.

“Building with ICF has been a great fit for our twin homes,” says Rocky Welker, Habitat’s executive director. “Not only are the homes sturdy, energy-efficient and affordable, but the shared concrete wall acts as a sound barrier to give twin home neighbors peace and privacy. We’re grateful to Stronghold and the NRMCA for this partnership that will build stability for two families in our community.”

Those interested in learning about ICF block are welcome to volunteer in Millard Acres over the coming weeks as we stack ICF block for our last three twin homes in the development. Learn more about volunteering on new construction and sign up here.

About Stronghold ICF

Stronghold ICF is an Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) manufacturer with a mission that builds trust by helping their customers build with confidence and peace of mind. Their patented ICF block offers industry-leading features that are engineered for superior performance and a smarter investment for homeowners. Distributed nationwide, Stronghold ICF is supported in the Midwest by Benchmark Foam, a South Dakota manufacturer since 1988. To learn more about how Stronghold ICF can support your next project, contact Stronghold at 1‑877‑433‑1880 to talk with their team about ICF construction.

About Homeownership

The Habitat Homeownership program is an affordable housing opportunity for households in Minnehaha, Lincoln and Turner counties that meet residency and financial requirements. Households are evaluated based on their need, ability to pay and willingness to partner. Selected households help build and repair homes with Habitat staff and volunteers and take homebuyer education classes. When they’ve completed all program requirements and their home construction is complete, they are eligible to purchase the home with an affordable mortgage through Habitat.

Learn more about the Homeownership program

Want to see how your support makes a difference in the lives of local students and families? Check out our 2025 Impact Report!

Thank you to our wonderful community of volunteers, donors, ReStore customers and advocates for believing in the power of home and opening doors with us in 2025. From building and repairing homes to providing the next generation of builders with hands-on construction experience, we’re creating life-changing opportunities together.

More detailed financial information and past impact reports can be found on our Financial Reports page.

We’re partnering with Owen’s Outfitters through our Neighborhood Revitalization (NR) program to complete renovations in their new warehouse! Over the next couple of weeks, Habitat staff and volunteers are painting the warehouse and reflooring the bathrooms.

“We are incredibly grateful to partner with Habitat for Humanity on this project,” says Mike Turner, executive director of Owen’s Outfitters. “Their willingness to invest time and skilled labor into improving our warehouse and bathrooms directly impacts our ability to serve families in need. When nonprofits work together, the impact is multiplied to help the entire community.”

The warehouse, which opened in July of 2025, provides Owen’s Outfitters with much needed space, but some elements of the older building are showing their age. Since the organization gives medical equipment to hundreds of families each month, they need a space that’s clean and professional to make people feel welcome and cared for. Having worked with our organization in the past, they reached out to see if our NR program could help make it possible.

“Owen’s Outfitters is a wonderful organization filling a real need in our community,” says Rocky Welker, Habitat’s executive director. “Like our NR program, it helps people by easing a financial burden they may not have been expecting. We’re excited to partner with them again and connect volunteers with the work of both of our missions.”

We also partner with Owen’s Outfitters when medical equipment is donated to our ReStore! Since our store focuses on home improvement and furnishings, we bring those donations of medical equipment to Owen’s Outfitters to ensure they get a second life with someone who needs it.

In the News

Dakota News Now: Habitat for Humanity supports Owen’s Outfitters’ mission

About Owen’s Outfitters

Owen’s Outfitters is a medical equipment lending library located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Their mission is to provide durable and disposable medical equipment at no charge to those who need it most, sourced through community donations. They clean, sort and organize the donations before giving them away to anyone in need regardless of income, age, sex, race or insurance status.

Learn more about Owen’s Outfitters

About Neighborhood Revitalization

Our NR program assists homeowners year-round with affordable home repairs, accessibility modifications and yard cleanup. Homeowners that meet project, income and residency guidelines may apply for the program. Accepted projects are completed by Habitat staff and volunteers with homeowners paying for a portion of project materials.

Learn more about the NR program

On November 21, we welcomed home four families home for the holidays in our Millard Acres development! Congratulations to Mitiku, Emebet, Wegihu, Bisrat, Tesfaye, Okuba and their families for all the hard work they put into the program, building their homes and taking homebuyer education classes. We hope they enjoy filling their new homes with joy, love and special memories this holiday season!

Meet Mitiku & Emebet

Mitiku and Emebet were both born and raised in Ethiopia but came to the U.S. for better opportunities, finding that Sioux Falls had good schools, less crime and was a good place to raise children. Emebet works full-time at a production facility, and Mitiku works part-time due to ongoing pain and physical limitations from a work injury. Though they lived in an apartment with safety and maintenance issues, it was unaffordable for them to purchase a home on their own.

When friends and family shared Habitat’s program with them, they applied and were accepted in April 2024. After many years of financial difficulty and discouragement because of Mitiku’s work injury, they now own their own home and can provide safety for their children and have a place to celebrate holidays with family and friends. “It is like a dream come true!”

Meet Wegihu & Bisrat

Wegihu and Bisrat are an Eritrean couple that moved to Sioux Falls for a quiet place to raise their children. Growing up, Wegihu enjoyed farming with his family in an Eritrean village, but Bisrat’s family lived in a refugee camp in Sudan that was not a very safe place. Now, Wegihu works full-time as a medication aid for a local retirement home and Bisrat cares for their three children.

Their family was renting an apartment, but the cost was continuing to increase and apartment life was making Bisrat’s health issues more difficult to manage. When they were approved for Habitat’s program, they were excited to build and own their own home with support from the community. Their home has more space for the children to play and sing, and it’s a healthier environment for Bisrat, with no one smoking and no stairs to climb.

Meet Tesfaye

Tesfaye was a teacher in Ethiopia before he immigrated to the U.S. over a decade ago. He liked that Sioux Falls had good jobs, friendly people and many cultures. Tesfaye, his wife and their three children lived in an apartment with crowding issues. Apartment life was also difficult for his wife and youngest daughter who have health issues. Even though he works full-time at a retail warehouse, it was unaffordable to purchase a home on the open market.

Tesfaye was approved for our Homeownership program in April 2024, and he said, “Owning a home will change our lives for the better. It will provide more safety, and the kids will have more space.” Their family is thankful and happy for the support they received from the community and the Habitat program.

Meet Okuba

Okuba grew up in Eritrea, moving to a refugee camp when her home country was no longer safe. She immigrated to the U.S. and liked that Sioux Falls was a small city with opportunities for education and a better life. She and her three children live in an apartment with crowding, maintenance and management issues. Even though she makes a good income from working full-time at a local production facility, purchasing a home was unaffordable.

When her Eritrean community told her about Habitat, she applied for our program and was accepted in April 2024. She is appreciative that the community was willing to help her family and knows that homeownership will change her family’s life because they will have a safe and healthy environment.

In the News

Dakota News Now: Four families move into Habitat homes ahead of the holidays

Thank You

These homes were made possible by the generosity of The Bancorp, the CNH Industrial Foundation, Wells Fargo, Pathward, Citibank, First PREMIER Bank & PREMIER Bankcard and the U.S. Bank Foundation. We would also like to thank our many other corporate and private donors for their support.

We would like to thank Project Warm-Up for their donation of blankets and Ben Reifel Middle School for making welcome home kits and signs for our new homebuyers.

Thank you to the 664 volunteers who devoted 4,450 hours to building these homes alongside these four families.

Last year, you blew us away with your Giving Tuesday generosity, not only meeting the match but exceeding it. We’re excited to announce that an anonymous donor has offered to match gifts again this Giving Tuesday up to $10,000, and we need your help to meet the match! With your support we can finish the last three twin homes in Millard Acres, our first ever housing development, bringing safety and security to six local families. Mark your calendars for December 2 and get ready to double your difference!

Thanks for helping us meet the match!

Giving Tuesday may be over, but our work is far from done. Your donation any day of the year is greatly appreciated, so we can continue helping families build a brighter future for generations to come. Make a difference with us today!

We’re thrilled to announce the 2025 recipient of the John Homstad Volunteer of the Year award – Sheila Hoff! Sheila is a local realtor who joined our Board of Directors in 2017, taking on the role of board president in 2022 until she termed off the board in 2023. In addition to her board service, she was a member of the Family Selection Committee and helped review and select households for the Homeownership program. She transitioned to the Fund Development Committee in 2022 where she now helps raise money for Habitat programs by assisting with our annual Raise the Roof event and building community relationships.

Sheila’s work is not confined to her roles on our board and committees! She’s volunteered on numerous home builds over the years and helps secure land for future projects, ensuring we can continue building safe, affordable homes for families in our community. She is a tremendous asset to our organization. Thank you, Sheila, for your leadership, generosity and commitment to further Habitat’s mission!

About the Award

The John Homstad Volunteer of the Year award was created in memory of John Homstad, a longtime volunteer Master’s Builder who passed away from cancer in 2023. It will be awarded yearly to individuals, groups and organizations that go above and beyond, advocate for Habitat and demonstrate leadership as John did during his time with us. We are honored to give this award on his behalf.