In August 2017, Volunteers of America, Dakotas set out to give young people experiencing homelessness a new place to call home. Our vision was to construct a new building – HomePlace – where these young people would be empowered through housing and supports offered by our Axis180 program.
Launching the HomePlace Campaign was the latest step in a journey that started more than two decades ago in 1997, when Axis180 was founded to provide transitional, supportive housing to young people experiencing homelessness.
For much of its history, Axis180 operated in a 10-unit apartment building in downtown Sioux Falls. Our vision for the HomePlace Campaign was to construct a new, 21-unit building where Axis180 could empower even more young people through education, employment support, life skills, housing, and positive connections.
This vision started to become a reality in May 2017 when a donor gifted Volunteers of America, Dakotas the land for HomePlace. In November 2018, Volunteers of America, Dakotas kicked off a Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Community Appeals Campaign, raising $1.4 million in support of HomePlace. Through additional support from the community, Volunteers of America, Dakotas ultimately raised $3.36 million to bring its vision to life.
In April 2019, we broke ground on HomePlace and 13 months later, in May 2020, HomePlace welcomed home the first of many young people who will find healing and success within its walls.
With the building complete and young people settled in, we start the next phase of our journey – uplifting and empowering those in need. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of people like you, and we hope that you will keep Volunteers of America, Dakotas, Axis180, and all the lives we’ll touch in your prayers.
Isaiah 32:18
My people will live in a peaceful place, in safe homes and quiet places of rest.