Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity is partnering with the Des Moines Arts Festival to construct a home on-site from June 28 through June 30, 2024. Located at the intersection of Locust and 12th streets, the project involves roughly 200 volunteers and is supported by American Equity. Once finished, the home will be moved to the Capitol View South neighborhood and sold to a family through the organization’s affordable mortgage program.
How the Habitat for Humanity Festival Build Works
The construction project serves as a live demonstration of Habitat for Humanity’s mission during the three-day festival. According to Des Moines Arts Festival organizers, the build takes place in the heart of the event, allowing attendees to observe the framing and exterior work in real-time. This marks the seventh time the organization has constructed a home at the festival since the partnership began in 2009.
The labor force consists of approximately 200 volunteers, including employees from American Equity, which provides financial and personnel support for the project. The build is designed to be completed in phases throughout the weekend, with the structure open for public tours on the final day of the festival, Sunday, June 30.
What Happens to the Home After the Festival
The structure is not a temporary display; it is a permanent residence that will be relocated following the conclusion of the event. Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity plans to transport the house to the Capitol View South neighborhood, an area where the organization has focused recent development efforts.
Upon arrival at its permanent foundation, the home will undergo final interior finishes and utility connections. It will eventually be sold to a qualifying buyer through the local Habitat affiliate’s affordable mortgage program. Unlike traditional market-rate housing, these mortgages are designed to provide stable, long-term homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate-income families who meet specific income and sweat-equity requirements.
Project Impact and Community Goals
The collaboration highlights a long-standing effort to address housing affordability in the Des Moines metro area. By placing the construction in a high-traffic public space, Habitat for Humanity aims to increase awareness of the regional housing shortage and the role of volunteer-led construction in community development.
Key Facts About the Project
- Location: Intersection of Locust and 12th streets, Des Moines.
- Timeline: June 28–30, 2024.
- Partners: Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity and American Equity.
- Final Destination: Capitol View South neighborhood.
- Program Model: Affordable mortgage for a qualifying buyer.
Future updates regarding the completion of the home and the selection of the homeowner will be managed through the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity official channels. The organization continues to seek volunteers and donors to sustain its ongoing construction projects throughout the year.
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