Partnerships and Positive Attitudes

Thanks to the Box Elder office, NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources has been building solid partners and reaching out to more families and individuals in Western South Dakota.  On February 23rd, the Community Development office contacted NeighborWorks seeking assistance for a client that was in need of an "Emergency" water heater.  

Homeowner, Judy McKeon, is on a fixed income that limited her ability to replace her non-working hot water heater.   Thanks to the partnership between Community Development and NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources, NeighborWorks was able to provide a loan which allowed Judy to replace the water heater quickly. 

Together both organizations helped improve the quality of her home and life.   

Although Judy has had a difficult year, she was still very positive and thankful.  Several times she stated, "What a lucky person I am."  

Judy's Loan Counselor, Doris Nelson, stated "I  thought,  "Wow",  I could sure learn something from this lady on Positive Attitudes". 

"Homeownership Offers New Beginnings"

Sherry Bald Eagle Bear and her two nieces will now have a safe, affordable, and spacious place to call home.  Sherry purchased a South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) Governor’s home at McGuigan Ranch in Spearfish. Sherry utilized a 502 direct loan from USDA Rural Development, NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources down payment and closing cost assistance, and homebuyer education. Together these partnerships helped create an affordable home for Sherry and her family. 

Sherry never thought that she would be able to own a home due to her fixed income.  It was not until she was referred to USDA Rural Development that she knew there was assistance and programs, like the Governor’s House and NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources, that could help her get in a home.

“Once I was qualified for the loan, I thought the process was finished. I was referred  to NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources. The NeighborWorks® staff, and their education program, helped me through the process.” Sherry stated. 

NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources was the general contractor for this project.  NeighborWorks® made sure the project was moving along and that Sherry and her nieces would have a quality home in a timely manner.  NeighborWorks® construction manager, Dennis Rentz, played a big roll in helping the process run smoothly. “Dennis was so helpful throughout this process. He let me know that I could call him whenever I needed anything,” Bald Eagle Bear stated.

Sherry said that the only thing she would have changed about the process was she wished she had attended the homebuyer education class before she was pre-qualified. Sherry attended homebuyer education in Belle Fourche through NeighborWorks®, but this was after she was pre-qualified for a SDHDA Governor's Home. NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources offers monthly homebuyer education classes throughout the Black Hills which prepare future homeowners for homeownership and educate clients on all of their options.   “Homebuyer education taught me a great deal of information. I would have liked that to be my first step.” 

The family is excited to start their journey in their new home. “Homeownership has offered me a new life. One in which my nieces can be proud to have a home to love,” Bald Eagle Bear Stated.

NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources has assisted over 900 families with homeownership. For more information about NeighborWorks®, and their programs, call 605-578-1401.

NeighborWorks Celebrates 900th Homebuyer!

For Eric Linn, the best part of homeownership is the realization that without programs like NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources, he probably wouldn't be living where he is.

"I'm really thankful to be building equity in my own place," said Linn, who recently purchased a newly constructed 2000-square foot, three bedroom home. "Without these programs, I wouldn't be doing that."

Linn was able to move his 6-year-old twin girls and 9-year-old boy into their new Box Elder home before Thanksgiving, something he wasn't always sure would be possible.

"My dream was to be in our new home by Christmas, but we were able to move in even earlier," he said. "Two months ago, the foundation was there but there was no roof. It went up really fast -- what a great Christmas present."

Before Linn discovered the USDA Rural Development program and NeighborWorks, his odds of buying a home were not all that good.

"I looked into getting a loan from a bank, and going that route, I simply could not get into a home based upon what I could afford," he said. NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources offers down payment and closing cost assistance to families like the Linns, who qualify under specific income guidelines.

Linn participated in NeighborWorks Home Buyer Education and received financing for his down payment and closing cost, making him NeighborWorks' 900th home buyer. A celebration of Linn's achievement as well as the success of the NeighborWorks program was held Saturday at Linn's new home.

For Linn, the buyer education program involved two three-hour classes that covered the entire home buying process, and included presentations from real estate agents, bankers and others actively involved in the purchase of a home.

"We teach people what they need to know to become homeowners," said Stephany Valkenburg, NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources marketing director.

The buyer education program, along with post-purchase classes that teach homeowners how to maintain a home, are free of charge and are open to anyone, not just those who qualify for home buying assistance through NeighborWorks. Valkenburg said that through "neighborhood block clubs" in Rapid City, Deadwood, Edgemont, Wall, Lead and Box Elder, the organization "helps bring communities together."

For Linn, obtaining a five-year interest free loan to cover his down payment took away some of the pressure first-time home buyers face.

"When you buy a home, there are so many more things to consider than just the obvious things like the purchase price, down payment and closing costs," Linn said. "For me, there were things like buying appliances. The help I received gave me one less thing to worry about."

Casino Royale-2011

Box Elder Warm and Safe-2011

$10,000 Donation From First Interstate Bank and First Interstate Bank Foundation

 DEADWOOD, SD (11/10/11) – First Interstate Bank Representatives presented a check in the amount of $10,000 on behalf of First Interstate Bank and The First Interstate Bank Foundation, to NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources Executive Director Joy McCracken at NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources third annual Casino Royale Fundraising event on November 10^th at 6pm. 


NeighborWorks® is a non-profit organization with a mission to create decent, safe, and affordable housing in Black Hills Communities by offering free Homebuyer’s Education classes, credit counseling, and housing rehab services. The donation proceeds from First Interstate Bank will benefit NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources and support their campaign for homeownership.


 In 1998, NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources became involved with NeighborWorks America’s “Campaign for Home Ownership.”  This campaign seeks to revitalize communities by offering homeownership opportunities.  Through the assistance of NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources families in South Dakota are realizing their dream of homeownership.First Interstate Bank was the first to show their support and help kick off NeighborWorks® Annual “Campaign for Home Ownership”.  


First Interstate Bank President of the Deadwood Market and Board of Director's Member of the First Interstate Bank Foundation, Shawn Rost stated, “We are pleased to show our continued support for the mission of NeighborWorks, in these trying economic times, the support for the homeownership initiative in Western South Dakota is more important than ever.  First Interstate Bank and The First Interstate Bank Foundation are proud to support NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources and their mission to the community.”


Joy McCracken Executive Director of NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources stated “we appreciate the continued support from First Interstate Bank and their ability of having the foresight to understand the benefits of homeownership and the positive outcomes it has on our families and communities. Through these strong partnerships our programs and services will continue to flourish.” Since 1992, NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources has provided a variety of programs and services that has assisted 898 low-and moderate-income families with the purchase of their homes. 


In November, NeighborWorks® Dakota Home Resources will celebrate their 900^th homebuyer.  First Interstate’s on-going generosity provides financial support for the continuation of such programs and services to benefit the residents of our communities. For more information about NeighborWorks’ programs and services, call 578-1401 or visit its website at www.neigborworksdhr.org. 

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