Attendees and instructors of the Community Housing Education course
Launched as a pilot project in 2024 at Terry Redlin Elementary School, the Community Housing Education & Resource Fair returned this spring with an enhanced, two-track format: one for potential homeowners seeking to understand the homebuying process, and another for tenants and renters aiming to better understand their rights and responsibilities.
Our class was very informative. I came in with a blank sheet — I had no idea what I was doing. This was my first step, and it was a great first step.
– Tony Zephier, homeownership class participant
The five-session course was hosted by Sioux Falls Thrive’s Housing Action Team and funded in part by the Realtor® Association of the Sioux Empire, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, and the Sioux Falls School District, with education provided by Lutheran Social Services and the Sioux Empire Housing Partnership.
Click on the arrows to see more photos of the Community Housing Education Course.
Hugo Barron and Kathy Anderson from Sioux Empire Housing Partnership taught the homeownership track, while Rod Lipka and Sara Ramirez from Lutheran Social Services taught the renting track. On the final night, a legal representative from East River Legal Services came in to answer participants’ questions.
To make the program as accessible as possible, free transportation, childcare, and evening boxed meals were provided to attendees and their children Monday through Thursday. One attendee required an ASL interpreter. Pizza was offered to attendees of both the course and the Housing Resource Fair on Friday. There also was a fun photo booth and various giveaways from sponsors.
The setup helped a great deal. Everything was coordinated. It was made as easy for the attendees — and, frankly, for us teachers — as possible. They didn’t have to worry about what they were doing with the kids; there was daycare available. They didn’t have to worry about the food; there was food ready. They didn’t have to come to a class and then go home and cook. Everything was coordinated; everything was predicted in advance. Honestly, it couldn’t have gone smoother from my standpoint as a teacher.
–Instructor Rod Lipka
“I’m new to Sioux Falls so I didn’t know much about housing and budgeting and your life now and your life with a mortgage,” said Patience Ponnie, who attended the homeownership track. “Especially talking about where you can buy a house and the difference between buying a new home and a used home. It was so interesting and I loved it.”
While several couples took the course together, in one instance, “a mother and father attended with their three kids,” said Lipka. “Everyone was still living at the family home, but all three kids were at the age where they were looking at moving out. The parents had grown up in a different culture than the one their kids were raised in. The parents valued having someone outside the family talk about rules, expectations, and best ways to work with landlords and roommates.”
Having free childcare and meals made attending the classes much easier for the participants. “We had our three boys in the childcare,” said Zephier. “That was nice to have that. And the sandwiches at the end of it really helped out during dinner time.”
I have two girls who went to the childcare in the next room. It was so helpful. And also the meal, so when I got home, I had something to give them before I made dinner.
– Patience Ponnie, homeownership class participant
“There’s value regardless of how old you are, where you’re at, whether you do own a house, whether you’re looking at buying or whether, hey, I don’t really want to deal with owning a house, I’d rather rent,” said Lipka. “They all seemed to have found value in that and asked good questions and were engaged.”
“If I come across anybody that needs this type of class, I definitely would recommend it,” said Zephier.
Click on the arrows to see more photos of the Housing Resource Fair.
Our educators for the Community Housing Education Course have availability for homeownership and rental education services year-round. You can connect with them at any time.