Next year, Habitat of the Eastern Bighorns will have built 122 affordable homes for Sheridan County Residents. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, Habitat of the Eastern Bighorns joined in the first ever Rural Rally, a part of the Habitat for Humanity Carter Work Project.
The event included several community leaders and guests who were invited to join Habitat to honor the legacy of President and Mrs. Carter and their work to provide affordable housing. The event also celebrated Habitat of the Eastern Bighorns 30 anniversary in Sheridan and Johnson Counties.
Christine Dieterich, Habitat Executive Director,
The event took place at the Weston Village on Edelman Loop, just off the Decker Road. The event included a free breakfast, a keynote speaker, as well as a panel of current and future homeowners that Habitat has helped to provide them with an affordable home.
She said that out of the 30 houses in the Weston Village, three already have homeowners in them and ten are under contract.
Several homes are still being built, and Dieterich said “We broke ground last year, and we will have all homes built by December of 2026. It is the largest project we have ever done, but also the fastest that we have even built homes of this size.”
She added that they normally built 3-4 houses a year. She said it shows what can happen when people put their minds together, show up and work together for the benefit of the community.
The event honored the legacy of the Carters, but also celebrated the 30 year history of Habitat of the Eastern Bighorns.
Mayor Rich Bridges attended the event.
The first family to receive a Habitat home in Sheridan was the Bell Family, and she read a letter from the family, and Robert Bell said they had been married for 28 years and they finally had a home of their own that they could afford.
Today, Habitat has built homes for teachers, veterans, nurses, military personnell, “These are the very people who make our community thrive,” Deitrich said.
Joshua Smith, owner of A&B Builders and Supplies, was the moderator of a panel discussion with three new homeowners who have benefited from the program.
Dakota Trevino-Bublitz, who has been living in her Habitat home for several years, Brenda Keahey and Lauren Alden, who will move into their homes shortly, talked about what Habitat for Humanity meant to them.
Lauren Alden, Brenda Keahey, Dakota Trevino-Bublitz and Joshua Smith
One question that Smith asked had to do with the Habitat community and giving back. Each of the panelist answered in their own words.
There was also a tour of several of the houses in the Habitat’s Housing Land Trust’s inaugural development, Weston Village.
