L-R: Ben Sinclair, Waukee City Council; Lance Henning, CEO, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity; Kristi Knous, President, Greater Des Moines Community Foundation; Katherine Saunders, American Equity; Lauren Burt, Kemin Industries; Zach Nunn, Congressman; Courtney Clark, Mayor of Waukee; Debi Durham, Director, Iowa Economic Development Authority; Kris Williams, CEO, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines; and Chris Crone, Waukee City Council
Q&A with Lance Henning, CEO of Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity and Kris Williams, president and CEO of Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and GDM Habitat for Humanity board member
Q: What was most exciting about breaking ground for the Walnut Crossing development?
A: Lance: Beyond the sheer number of homes— we’re building 48 at Walnut Crossing— we’re creating choice in housing, the chance to own a home located in Waukee, a community with lots of amenities and where jobs are growing. Creating that choice at a scale reaching a new level for Habitat for Humanity is very exciting.
Q: How does the development meet a community need for Waukee?
A: Kris: I think workforce housing like Walnut Crossing is so needed. Habitat serves a broader section of the workforce than most folks realize— people working in health care, education and so much more. You know, there’s a housing crisis across the U.S., and for Habitat to do this in a community where people are needed and wanted is just amazing.
Q: What is different about building homes at such a large scale?
A: Lance: Any time we have the opportunity to locate a large number of houses close together, there’s an efficiency on the building side, but there’s also a sense of community that grows there. It happens as volunteers build together, as our homebuyers get to know each other and then end up being neighbors.
Q: What long-term impacts do you expect to see from Walnut Crossing?
A: Kris: Affordable housing is key to financial stability, personal stability and so much more. Given the size of this development, the impact on the community will be huge. The community, relationships and the workers who live here will really benefit from the whole framework.
95 University Ave. Suite 1 | Des Moines, IA 50314 | (515) 471-8686 | gdmhabitat.org
