A Decent Place to Live
Greater Des Moines Habitat expands to serve more communities.
Since 1987 Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity has been partnering with volunteers, supporters, and potential home buyers to provide affordable housing for Des Moines residents. With its 2023 Blitz Build this past month, the organization extended its outreach to one of the fastest-growing communities in the state.
“We’ve done quite a few Blitz Builds over the years, but this was our first time in Ankeny,” says Greater Des Moines Habitat CEO Lance Henning. “Some of the best resources and opportunities available in the Des Moines metro exist in communities like Ankeny. But for the folks Habitat serves, that choice is almost always a luxury that’s out of their price range.”
During the weeklong project, more than 600 volunteers worked to construct eight new duplex homes in a mixed-income neighborhood on the north side of Ankeny.
“Two of the homes were already in progress, and six evolved from foundation slabs to framed, roofed, and sided houses by the end of the week,” Henning says.
As with previous Blitz Build projects, the Ankeny event came together with “the right mix of volunteers, excitement, and sponsors,” including a daylong CEO Build sponsored by Iowa Bankers Association.
“We had business and nonprofit leaders from around the metro out there framing and putting up trusses and doing all sorts of heavy lifting,” says Henning.
Of the eight homes constructed during the week, seven already had buyers, and many of those future homeowners were on hand to participate as well.
“We were really excited about this event,” Henning says, “because it was our first in a community like this.”
Danny Akright, Director of Communications for Greater Des Moines Habitat, says, “Data shows that ZIP code is one of the key predictors of childhood success, affecting everything from academic and economic success to individual health. And neighborhoods that include children of different economic backgrounds allow children from low-income households a greater likelihood of rising economically.”
Rapidly growing communities like Ankeny are typically in need of low- to moderate-income housing, so projects like Habitat’s Blitz Build serve the local community as well as the families who will buy the homes.
According to Ankeny Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Melisa Cox, “Affordable housing is a key piece to fixing our workforce shortage issues. Ankeny is the best place to live, work, and play. Making housing affordable is a step in the right direction.”
The Habitat project homes are located in the Kimberley Crossing development, a new neighborhood by Kimberley Development with a mix of single-family and multifamily residences.
“We’d been in conversation with a number of sources for our next Blitz Build,” Henning explains, “and the Kimberley Development opportunity just came together first.”
Kimberley Development has been a longtime supporter of Habitat and its mission. Vice President Jenna Kimberley also serves on the board for Greater Des Moines Habitat.
“Home-buyer families will purchase the homes later this year and early in 2024,” Akright says. “Like all Habitat home buyers, they’ll pay their mortgages and build equity in their homes, helping build wealth and a better future for themselves and their families.”
Henning adds, “Part of the Habitat strategy is to be able to do builds in multifamily and mixed-income neighborhoods. In addition to continuing our work in Des Moines neighborhoods, those suburban communities are areas of opportunity for us.”
Habitat’s opportunities have been growing so much that it, too, moved into a new home this fall. In September the Des Moines office relocated to a new headquarters on University Avenue just north of downtown, which includes staff offices, conference rooms, and training space. The surrounding neighborhoods feature dozens of Habitat-built and -repaired homes.
“Over the years, Habitat has served hundreds of families through affordable homeownership,” Akright says. “The old offices just didn’t provide enough space or the welcoming environment we want for our future homeowners.”
With the move, Habitat’s main ReStore location will be able to expand as well. “The old offices will be renovated to allow the ReStore to expand,” says Akright. “With the extra space, the ReStore can continue its growth, too, increasing revenue and further fueling the Habitat mission.”
Habitat for Humanity was founded on the belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live. Over the past few months, the organization has made that vision possible for eight more families—and for the Habitat team, too.