Built by our members

The Tiny Homes are being built by our YMCA Alumni volunteers using structural insulated panels (SIPS) for the walls. The building site will include four homes constructed in a circular pattern, with a gathering and garden space in the middle, complete with a canopy, picnic tables, benches and fire pit.

The Tiny Homes meet high standards for building insulation, use natural ventilation and solar patterns to reduce heating and cooling demands. This upfront investment in passive house construction will produce significant energy savings and comfortable living.

Built to high standards


Tiny Home village site plan

The site plan calls for a small village of four Tiny Homes around  a central courtyard.  The front doors of all the homes face east in the Lakota tradition. One leaves the home in the morning and walks into the sunshine.

 Tiny  Home  floor plan

Here is the floor plan (16 x 20 feet) for the lower level of the Tiny Home. An outdoor deck will complement the family living space.

Each Tiny Home has a loft

The living space is increased through a second floor loft. The drawings, as presented by Siris Coombs Architecture , were approved by the YMCA Board and are updated as the construction moves ahead.

Here's what you need to know about becoming a  construction volunteer 

Here's what you need to know if you would like to join our "Boots on the Ground"  team for one or more of our four-week-long Tiny Home "waves" (building sessions) in Dupree, S.D.  , in May and September 2025. A construction volunteer registration form is directly below.

Work Weeks:
#1: May 6-13
#2: May 13-20
#3: Sept. 9-16
#4: Sept. 16-23 (SOLD OUT)

Project  details

Get weekly progress update

Visit the YMCA Alumni Facebook Page each Wednesday for the latest news and updates on the National Service Project. 

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