Simplified: After a successful pilot project last fall, Sioux Falls Thrive is bringing its housing education course back in a new format and with more resources to help people find and maintain long-term housing.
Why it matters
- The Community Housing Education and Resource Fair, set to take place April 7-11 at Garfield Elementary, will offer two tracks attendees can take – one to learn pathways to homeownership and another to learn smart renting strategies.
- An important component of the housing course is making sure there are "as few barriers as possible," Sioux Falls Thrive President Michelle Erpenbach said. Childcare is available to attendees, dinner is provided, and transportation options are also available. There are also no income restrictions on who can attend.
- Additionally, attendees will leave the course with a Housing Education Resource Organization (HERO) certificate, documentation that signals to both landlords and lenders that they've learned how to evaluate their finances, understand the true costs of homeownership and, if renting, understand their rights and how to keep a good tenant/landlord relationship.
"This is a great need in our community, and I hope many take advantage of it," said Lisa Ross, homeowner services coordinator with Habitat for Humanity.
Tell me more about the program
The housing course will take place in five 90-minute sessions from April 7 to 11 at Garfield Elementary School.
The final day will also include a Housing Resource Fair, where attendees newly equipped with housing knowledge can go talk to landlords, lenders, bankers, and other housing agencies and businesses in town.
- The fair is also open to the public and will run 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11 at Garfield.
Why is a HERO certification important?
The HERO certificate shows that a person understands both the finances and the process of buying a home, as well as renter rights and responsibilities.
The certificate can also help people in the application for housing through Habitat for Humanity, Ross said.
- Ross noted that in recent years, Habitat has seen a significant number – as many as half – of applications get denied because their monthly debt burden is too high, their income is too low, their credit score is too low or they have too many collections/judgments against them.
The certificate, and the education behind it, can help people learn how to address these issues and get on the right path to stable housing.
"They have more confidence because they understand the steps, the timeline, and the agents involved in the home closing process," Ross said.
How do I get signed up?
You can register for the Community Housing Education course here.
