Community Development


Housing in rural areas is difficult to build and develop at an affordable rate. Material prices are similar in small communities as they are large ones, but the wages are lower and growth is slower. A problem facing small towns in South Dakota is losing young people and families to urban areas where jobs and housing are plentiful; as a result, small town schools are either consolidating or closing. Affordable housing in rural areas is a critical component in rejuvenating economic growth and keeping families in small towns.

Affordable Housing Resource Centers


One of the services that the Partnership provides is assistance with identifying current affordable housing needs and planning for future affordable housing in your community. The Affordable Housing Resource Center program has been made possible through a grant from the Citi Foundation. The Citi grant affords the Sioux Empire Housing Partnership the ability to establish in communities within the MSA of Sioux Falls affordable housing resource centers whose activities will be directed towards affordable housing for low-to moderate-income families. A website has been designed that will develop and compile available data to help the communities with the purchase of land for the development of affordable housing projects, for revitalization projects of depressed neighborhoods, foreclosed properties through public/private partnerships and linked to the websites for South Dakota Housing Development Authority, HUD, Southeastern Council of Governments, USDA and other organizations. For the first-time homebuyer the center would have material available to address down payment assistance, for local banks on grants available from the Federal Home Loan Bank, employer assistance down payment programs and other options that may help with the purchase of an affordable home. The primary focus of the centers is that funds would be directed towards affordable housing. When completed, these centers will be solely owned and maintained by the communities themselves.

Creating Partnerships


The SEHP has built many partnerships in the Sioux Falls community that have been vital to the development of affordable housing in Sioux Falls. These partnerships have included local and federal grant dollars, zero interest loan pools, reduced fees from Realtors and lenders and discounted materials. All these partners combined have created quality, affordable single family homes. SEHP can assist communities in creating their own partnerships that can similarly reduce the price of homes being constructed.

Financing


The SEHP has creatively financed each affordable housing development, utilizing the partnerships of local lenders. Lenders contribute money into a zero interest loan pool that the Partnership accesses to pay for the construction and development of new housing. The Partnership has also utilized local and federal grants for land development and received financing with governmental entities such as HUD, Fannie Mae and the City of Sioux Falls. The Partnership plans to work with each community to find a financing package that will work for their project.

Affordable Housing Developments


Beginning in 1999, the SEHP developed an affordable housing project in Sioux Falls in Lacey Park. The displaced homes were moved onto new foundations, rehabbed and sold to low income people who would be unable to afford a traditional home. Since then, the SEHP has completed a development of 49 new construction homes and is now embarking on a new development. The SEHP has a decade of experience in developing land and creating neighborhoods and will offer consulting advice in the development of new neighborhoods in other communities.

Revitalization


In Sioux Falls, the Whittier Neighborhood was the first neighborhood that SEHP became part of the revitalization efforts. Through the efforts of the SEHP and the City of Sioux Falls, a total of nine houses have been rehabbed and sold below market value to the first time home buyers. The benefits of this rehabbing not only resulted in new home ownership; the neighborhood itself has visually improved. The rehabbing in selected neighborhoods resulted in a HUD "Best Practice Award." The SEHP is also experienced in purchasing, rehabbing and reselling to low- to moderate-income residents individually since the SEHP became HUD preferred non-profit buyer of REO properties. SEHP has the capability of buying homes in the state that come available, or would offer consulting advice on neighborhood revitalization.

The SEHP was the first entity to build in the mayor's designated revitalization area of Pettigrew Heights. A handsome building consisting of five condominiums on 10th Street and Menlo not only enhance the neighborhood's attractiveness, but is a start to renewing that area of the city. Older homes have long been a stable earmark in Pettigrew Heights, and partnered with the business community who has established storefronts, it is the goal to add new life to this fine neighborhood.

The City of Centerville, SD also benefitted through the efforts of SEHP when the organizations partnered to purchase a HUD property and renovate a deteriorating, older home utilizing NSP funds. This effort not only brought this beautiful home into its original stately condition, but also allowed a qualifying family to move to Centerville and enjoy and enhance this growing community. We were proud to be a part of this venture and wish to thank those in Centerville who encouraged this growth.

Homebuyer Education


SEHP will offer homebuyer education to residents of neighboring communities. Julie Clark, Education Director for the SEHP, has educated thousands of people on homebuyer education and money management classes through one on one counseling sessions or group seminars. These classes have proven to create more responsible homeowners.

These are some of the services the Partnership is making available to neighboring communities. For further information, call (605) 339-0942 or e-mail sehp@siouxfalls.com.