Service with a Purpose
Tiny Home #5
Building More Than a House
At the YMCA Seven Council Fires, we believe everyone deserves a safe place to land, a place to grow, and a place to begin again.
That is why we are building Tiny Home #5 at Morning Star Village. Thanks to an anonymous donner we have the ability yo build a fifth home to make the village a little bigger.
Morning Star Village is our transitional housing community designed to support single mothers, or young families who are working toward stability, independence, and a new chapter. Families live in these homes while participating in financial education, goal setting, and life planning programs that help them build a strong future.
Tiny Home #5 is not just another building.
It is another opportunity. Another beginning. Another family that gets a chance.
Partnered with the YMCA Alumni National Service Project (NSP) we are addressing the housing crisis and expanding the Y's reach across the reservation.
Tiny homes are transitional and sustainable housing for single mothers built by YMCA Alumni and volunteers like you! Think of Habitat for Humanity with a Y twist. Anyone is free to join.
We have a main site in Dupree (on the west side of the reservation) and our resident camp (on the east end of the reservation). So what are we doing for the other 19 communities across the area? Great question, we are going to build twigs in 10 communities' strategically around CRST. If you think of a Y branch, they are huge facilities, to scale that down we get a 'Twig.' Twigs are going to be small anchors scatter across the reservation to give us a physical presence represented by a local advisory board.
VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
“We welcome active YMCA professionals, friends and family members to join us this year or on one of next year’s work weeks.” Says Craig Altschul
2026 Tiny Home Waves – Pick Your Fav
Wave 1 (June 9–16)
The Heavy Lift Wave — moving and installing exterior panels
Wave 2 (June 16–23)
The Framing Wave — interior walls and bringing structure to life, with siding going up
Wave 3 (Aug 11–18)
The Furniture Wave — turning a build into a home while continuing with siding and more
Wave 4 (Aug 18–25)
The Landscaping Wave — shaping the space around the home and the original four homes
Wave 5 (Oct 13–20)
The Plumbing Wave — bringing water, life, and functionality into the home and getting everything connected
Wave 6 (Oct 20–27)
The Finish and Flooring Wave — trim work, flooring, and wrapping it all with a bow
Click here to register *meals included
Click here to register *meals included
*There are scholarships available
COMMUNITY VISION
We have always stood by the best practice of community input. The motto "you can't talk about us, without us" was at the fore front of this community engagement project. From the conception either from community needs assessments or to focus groups, our community has guided this project.
LONG SUSTAINABILITY
The Y has an endowment of over $1 million. With your support to our endowment campaign you can successfully help futures to come. The endowment is used for the upkeep and continued maintained for our properties. If you would like to keep our sustainability growing, please click the button below.
SUCCESSFUL FUNDING
The YMCA Alumni have led a successful fundraising campaign. Click below to help us get the to the finish line.
QUESTIONS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING?
Contact our Retreats and Trips Director: Mariah McLellan
Email: retreats@ymcafires.org
Y Phone: (605) 365-5232
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 218
Dupree, SD 57623