A Message from our CEO

A Message from our CEO

Lance Henning
Chief Executive Officer

At Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, we’re standing on three and a half decades of proven success in affordable homeownership in Central Iowa. As we reflect on our 35th anniversary, we recognize the innovations that built that foundation and celebrate the innovation that will build upon it.

Last year, our team developed and launched the Mortgage Readiness Model, a new method of meeting households wherever they are in their journey to homeownership. Nearly everyone who walks through our doors has a clear path forward, whether they’re ready for homeownership today or we can provide guidance to prepare them for tomorrow.

We refocused on equity, re-examining our qualification criteria and making relatively small changes with outsized impacts. More future homeowners than ever before can now join us on this journey. More families have brighter futures. More doors are open.

Whether you made a gift, swung a hammer, shopped the ReStore, or served in another capacity, you were a critical piece of last year’s success. Together, we did amazing things. We completed 100 more repairs than in 2021. We built a house in fewer than nine days at the Iowa State Fair. We revolutionized our processes and paved the way forward for our future as an organization.

In this report, you’ll read about these successes, meet some of our incredible homeowners, and learn about how you helped us make such an impact. When you’re through, I hope you feel the immense hope that I feel – the hope that comes from innovation, collaboration, and most importantly from compassion. Join us as we turn that hope into reality.

Additional Accomplishments in 2022

Additional Accomplishments in 2022

We built a house in (fewer than) 9 days and helped tens of thousands of Iowans connect with Habitat’s mission at the Iowa State Fair Build.

You helped us advocate successfully for new funding to support down payment assistance, home preservation, and new construction, benefiting thousands of Iowans for years to come.

We began the renovation process at 95 University Avenue, which will provide better opportunities to serve our partners and a new home for GDM Habitat’s headquarters.

Habitat’s new Mortgage Readiness model increases access to credit and provides an individualized plan and hope to more Central Iowans.

We created the Lending Services Team, a group dedicated to connecting more Central Iowans than ever before with affordable homeownership.

We reflected on our global housing engagement through a special Taste the World event and celebrated more than $3.3 million in lifetime contributions to our Habitat partners in El Salvador, Nepal, and Malawi.

Construction services innovated a streamlined accessibility ramp construction process – a “Ramp in a Box” – and piloted a new construction internship, helping add efficiency and capacity to our build teams.

Meet Agnes

Agnes invited Habitat to join her at home to talk about the impact that homeownership has had on her and her family. Her pride in her home, her love for her family, and her gratitude to those who helped make it all possible are evident.

Click play on the video to meet Agnes.

Meet Agnes

Agnes invited Habitat to join her at home to talk about the impact that homeownership has had on her and her family. Her pride in her home, her love for her family, and her gratitude to those who helped make it all possible are evident.

Click play on the video to meet Agnes.

Home Preservation Ramps Up

Home Preservation Ramps Up

Formerly known as the Rock the Block® home repair program, GDM Habitat’s Home Preservation Program broke new ground in 2022. Finishing the year with a total of 286 completed repairs, the program had its most productive year on record. Team members innovated to serve homeowners more effectively and efficiently, surpassing the 2021 total by more than 100 additional repairs.

A new “Ramp in a Box” technique has revolutionized the creation of accessibility ramps for homeowners. The ramps are constructed in modular sections at Habitat’s headquarters, then installed on site to suit the needs of the homeowner. Not only is this method a time saver, it’s also less disruptive for homeowners.

Learn more about the Home Preservation Program.

Kate’s New Windows

Kate worked hard to find a home she could afford. When she found “the one,” though, it needed a bit of TLC that was just out of her budget. Habitat helped Kate replace 10 century-old windows, helping Kate have a warmer winter and a brighter future for her and her son.

Read about Kate and her new windows.

Kate’s New Windows

Kate worked hard to find a home she could afford. When she found “the one,” though, it needed a bit of TLC that was just out of her budget. Habitat helped Kate replace 10 century-old windows, helping Kate have a warmer winter and a brighter future for her and her son.

Read about Kate and her new windows.

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critical repairs and modifications completed
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feet of ramps constructed
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windows installed
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roofs replaced
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new furnaces installed

Shirley’s Garden

For years and years, Shirley had dreamed of owning a home with space for a big garden, but her finances kept that dream out of reach. In 2021, Shirley purchased an affordable home through Habitat and broke ground on her dream garden. We checked in with her in early summer 2022 to see what was blooming.

Click play on the video to tour Shirley’s garden.

Shirley’s Garden

For years and years, Shirley had dreamed of owning a home with space for a big garden, but her finances kept that dream out of reach. In 2021, Shirley purchased an affordable home through Habitat and broke ground on her dream garden. We checked in with her in early summer 2022 to see what was blooming.

Click play on the video to tour Shirley’s garden.

Iowa State Fair Build

Iowa State Fair Build

The pounding of hammers and the scream of chop saws are the traditional soundtrack of a Habitat build site. This summer, though, we added the roar of powerful engines and the shrieks of thrillseekers as our team built a complete home at the Iowa State Fair. Nestled between tractor pulls and the Thrill Zone, hundreds of volunteers joined the construction team to hammer out a 1,158-square foot home in fewer than nine days.

As the home progressed, GDM Habitat and Habitat of Iowa staff greeted thousands of State Fair visitors who stopped by the build to learn about the house and Habitat’s work. Senators Grassley and Ernst, Governor Reynolds, Representatives Axne and Miller-Meeks visited the build site, and dozens of state legislators visited the build site to learn about Habitat and the ways in which the state and federal goverments can and do support affordable homeownership. To wrap up the exceptional week, thousands more Fairgoers toured the completed home on the final Saturday and Sunday.

After the concerts quieted, the Skyglider motors stopped turning, and the Craft Beer Tent poured its last pint, GDM Habitat staff returned to the site to guide the house to its foundation just blocks away by truck. After work completed, we gathered once more to celebrate Mei and Ming, the proud new homeowners of this blue ribbon build.

Learn more about the Iowa State Fair Build:

2022 Financials

2022 Financials

In March 2022, the philanthropist Mackenzie Scott announced her intention to provide a transformational $9 million gift to Greater Des Moines Habitat over three years. This anomalous gift is not reflected in the financials above. Learn more about the gift.

In March 2022, the philanthropist Mackenzie Scott announced her intention to provide a transformational $9 million gift to Greater Des Moines Habitat over three years. This anomalous gift is not reflected in the financials above. Learn more about the gift.

ReStore Helps Fuel the Mission

ReStore Helps Fuel the Mission

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returned to support our mission
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online store sessions
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cash register round-up donations
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volunteer shifts completed
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Tool Lending Library loans completed
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sets of kitchen cabinets removed by the deconstruction team

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Jodi Kness, Board Chair
Wells Fargo

Paul Hlivko, Vice Chair
Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield

Pat Wood, Treasurer
Kemin Industries

Tina Smith Fritz, Secretary
Bankers Trust

Don Seibel, Past Chair
Farm Bureau Financial Services

Luis Arredondo
Central Iowa FCA

Kate Clark
Corteva Agriscience

Tod Ellis
Raccoon Valley Bank

Wes Foster
True Bible Baptist Church

Mary Beth Hamann
Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield

Negus Sankofa Imhotep
Urban Dreams

Sam James
Casey’s General Stores

Kathy Kay
Principal

Jenna Kimberley
Kimberley Development

Clark Matthews
Krause+

Todd Mattison
Kemin Industries

Katherine Saunders
American Equity

Jason Stone
Davis Brown Law Firm

Nicholas Wuertz
Lutheran Services in Iowa

Alyssa Young
Two Rivers Marketing

Dallas County

Dallas County

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completed repair projects
$0
spent on critical repairs
$0
average cost per project

Of the 22 households served with critical repairs through our Home Preservation Program in Dallas County…

  • 5 households had windows or doors replaced
  • 6 households had their roof repaired or replaced
  • 3 households had their siding repaired or replaced
  • 6 households received HVAC, plumbing, and/or electrical repairs
  • and 9 households received accessibility modifications, such as the addition of an accessibility ramp, grab bars, or a step-in tub

Jasper County

Jasper County

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completed repair projects
$0
spent on critical repairs
$0
average cost per project

Of the 14 households served with critical repairs through our Home Preservation Program in Jasper County…

  • 3 households had windows or doors replaced
  • 3 households had their roof repaired or replaced
  • 4 households received HVAC, plumbing, and/or electrical repairs
  • and 5 households received accessibility modifications, such as the addition of an accessibility ramp, grab bars, or a step-in tub

Dallas County Steering Committee

  • Trace Schmitt (Perry)
  • Cheryl Prall (Dallas Center)
  • Tod Ellis (Adel)
  • Ned Menke (Perry)
  • Charis Paulson (Adel)
  • Andrea Brownlee (Perry)
  • Todd Jones (Granger)
  • Brad Sporrer (Clive)

Jasper County Steering Committee

  • Bruce Showalter (Newton)
  • Sue Nolin (Newton)
  • Floyd Davis (Newton)
  • Tiff Williams (Newton)
  • Mark Lageveen (Lynnville)
  • John Schultz (Sully)
  • Daryn Williams (Newton)

Builders Circle

Builders Circle

“Home is a place where you feel like you belong, you feel safe. And most importantly, it’s a place where you can spend time with your family, your friends, and your animals. It’s a place where you can make memories. My hope for families who participate with Habitat is that they have a structure, a place that they can call home.”

– Kari Kreemer, Builders Circle member

More than 160 Builders Circle members gave gifts of $2,500 or more in 2022. Why? Because they understand the need for safe, decent, and affordable homeownership. Together, these donors put their values into action, contributing to make sure every mortgage and every repair is affordable for the Central Iowans who partner with Habitat.

Builders Circle members celebrate the completion of the Iowa State Fair Build

Global Engagement

Global Engagement

Embracing the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live, GDM Habitat magnifies the impact of our local work through global giving and events that connect our staff, volunteers, and donors to Habitat’s work outside the United States.  Last year, GDM Habitat was ranked #14 among U.S.Habitat affiliates for contributions to our global partners.

During 2022, we built on our tradition of financial support for Habitat’s global work. We celebrated achieving the $3 million lifetime giving milestone and topped $3.3 million in lifetime giving by the end of the year – more than enough to help 750 families outside the U.S.!

The majority of GDM Habitat’s global giving and the entire fiscal year 2022 contribution of $392,650 benefitted families served by Habitat in El Salvador, Malawi, and Nepal – countries where we have developed strong relationships. Pre-pandemic, we regularly sent Global Village volunteer teams on week-long service trips to these areas. (We launched our first GV trip in 2017 and completed our 24th trip in January 2020.)

While trips have been paused for three years, GDM Habitat staff communicate regularly with our global partners and stay updated regarding their work. We provide opportunities for volunteers with interest in Habitat’s global work to engage in a variety of ways. In 2022, we celebrated World Habitat Day on October 3 by hosting a Taste the World dine-and-learn event (see photos). This event featured delicious food inspired by each of the three countries where we have partnerships, along with personal stories from Habitat’s staff, volunteers, and a homeowner family highlighting the intersections between our local and global work.

Since 1987, we’ve helped more than 2,000 families
by building homes, communities, and hope.

Thank YOU

for making this work possible!

GDM Habitat for Humanity

95 University Ave., Suite 1
Des Moines, Iowa 50314

515-471-8686

Office Hours
Mon. – Fri. 8:00am – 4:00pm

East Euclid ReStore

2200 E. Euclid Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50317

515-650-6827
For donations, call 515-309-0224

Store Hours
Mon. – Sat. 9:00am – 6:00pm

Urbandale ReStore

4033 NW Urbandale Dr.
Urbandale, Iowa 50322

515-650-6828
For donations, call 515-309-0224

Store Hours
Mon. – Sat. 9:00am – 6:00pm