Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity dedicated its third completed home of 2005 on May 7 at 1305 Jefferson Avenue in Des Moines. The home, which contains elements of a structural enhancement program, was designed and built to increase resistance to wind.

The home incorporates several structural enhancement systems designed to increase the homes resistance to Iowa’s high winds. These include special strapping and braces in the framing which increase the resistance to winds generated by tornados.

The home also features the use of Insulated Concrete Forms, a Styrofoam form used to pour the concrete foundation walls that is left in place, adding insulation to the home and making foundation construction possible with Habitat volunteer labor. The use of the forms was part of The Sunderland Foundation sponsorship of the build.

Peter Cham Dual, his wife Mary Chol Dieng and their six children celebrated the dedication of their new home built in partnership with the community and sponsored by The Sunderland Foundation, Wells Fargo, Ziegler Cat and EMC.

Since arriving from the Sudan in 1998, Peter worked for the Iowa Packing Plant while Mary has tended to their children, ranging in age from infant to 14 years, with an eye on the goal of providing them a sound education. “We want them to have a good education, all attending college,” Mary said. Studies show that homeownership among low-income families enhances the success of children securing a college education.