OFS Emerging Adults Build Two New Homes in Sun Prairie

OFS participants, staff, board members, volunteers, and community leaders joined on July 17 to celebrate the completion of two new houses in Sun Prairie.

Two new homes stand on Kamperschroer Way in Sun Prairie, but the real foundation behind them is the dedication of dozens of young people in Operation Fresh Start’s (OFS) Build Academy and Legacy programs.

On Thursday, July 17, OFS hosted an open house event to celebrate the completion of both a market-rate and an affordable single-family home, constructed almost entirely by participants ages 16 to 24 under the supervision of construction trainers and program staff.

“This is far more than wood, nails, and paint,” OFS Executive Director Brian McMahon said during the event. “These homes are here because of the grit, determination, and teamwork of our young people and supervisors.”

One house, 1088 Kamperschroer Way, was built by Build Academy participants, part of OFS’s pre-apprenticeship training program. This market-rate house is a two-story, 1,866 sq. ft 3 bed/2.5 bath home.

1088 Kamperschroer Way in Sun Prairie, with 1096 to the right of it. OFS participants built both houses.

“We pushed the young people and had high expectations,” Build Academy Supervisor Joe Collins said. “Mistakes were made and fixed, but we got it done. “Multiple young people left this worksite for great jobs in the trades. We are producing market-rate houses that are landing our young people market-rate jobs! This is the result of a lot of hard work put in by everyone.”

Collins added that many of his crew that built the house are now carpenters, masons, and floor layers.

Nia, one of the skilled young adults who worked on the house, is now employed at Sergenian’s Floor Coverings doing floor installation.

“It’s not just about building houses,” Nia said at the event. “It’s about community, inclusion, resilience, and support. We all need somebody who believes in us, somebody who will just sit down and listen. We're all different, but we all deserve support and love, and that's why I will never forget about OFS, because this is the place where I found that.”

Nia speaks to everyone about building 1088 Kamperschroer Way as a part of her Build Academy Experience.

The other house at 1096 Kamperschroer Way is a Community Development Block Grant house built by OFS Legacy participants through their YouthBuild Global AmeriCorps service. This affordable home is a 1,319 sq. ft 3 bed/2 bath ranch built by young adults working toward earning their high school diploma.

One Legacy participant, David, recalled joining the building process while they were putting up drywall.

“I’m really thankful to be accepted into the Operation Fresh Start family,” David said. “It’s been such a great experience. I’ve even managed to impress people with my work. I helped build this very driveway we’re standing on, alongside an amazing crew. I’ve faced challenges, both mentally and physically—but I’ve grown so much through it all.”

David smooths wet concrete on the driveway of 1096 Kamperschroer Way in Sun Prairie on April 8, 2025.

Sun Prairie Mayor Steve Stocker attended the open house and called the project a “win-win-win” for young adults, the city, and families seeking stable housing.

“These young people have created something they can drive by every day and say, ‘I did that,’” Stocker said. “This is what homeownership should look like—community-built and rooted in opportunity.” 

Over the course of nearly a year, OFS participants poured concrete, framed walls, installed siding and drywall, laid flooring, painted interiors, and landscaped exteriors. Along the way, they earned industry certifications, learned soft skills like communication and teamwork, and received support with academics and career planning.

Legacy crew supervisor, Miles Hegg, said each house represents “a series of difficult decisions” made by participants—waking up early, navigating public transportation, showing up on hard days, and committing to personal growth.

“This house was built by people who were 16 to 24,” Hegg said. “When you walk through these homes, remember the people in the orange or high-vis shirts did that work.”

Legacy Construction Supervisor Miles Hegg interviews on WMTV 15 News.

Both homes are part of a broader housing development in Sun Prairie, where OFS completed two houses on the same street last year and are now in the early stages of building two more homes to be completed next year. As Dane County’s housing needs continue to grow, OFS continues to address both the affordable housing shortage and the workforce skills gap in the trades. 

“These homes will shelter families,” Collins said, “but they also hold the story of the young adults who built them.”