RAPID CITY, S.D. — Chadwick Ratigan, Executive Director of OneHeart, describes the nonprofit’s mission simply: “We give people the opportunity to dream.” That mission comes to life daily on the organization’s four-acre downtown campus, where people facing housing and financial insecurity are supported with tailored case management, job training, and support services.
OneHeart opened its doors in January 2021, after years of planning sparked by a community initiative to address “invisible homelessness”—those living in cars, motels, or couch-surfing, but not visibly on the streets. Ratigan joined the organization in May 2020 before its official opening, helping shape programs and policies from the ground up.
“We’re like a college campus for adults navigating their way out of poverty,” Ratigan said in an interview. “People stay in our men’s, women’s, and family towers, and work on personalized plans to reach stability. There’s no time limit as long as they’re progressing.”
From education to entrepreneurship, residents map out their own goals. Some, like one woman who paid off debt and secured a stable job in just four months, move out quickly. Others, like a family that stayed three years while the father and mother focused on building careers, take longer. Regardless of the path, OneHeart supports them every step and continues to follow up for a year after graduation.
At capacity more often than not, OneHeart has grown into a multifaceted support network. The campus includes a public-facing coffee shop, HomeBrew, staffed by residents learning job and communication skills. It also launched Atrium, a sober living program with zero relapses in its first year, and Gravitate, an online job platform those at OneHeart already see taking off locally with hopes to expand soon.
Still, funding remains a challenge. “Federal pools are shrinking,” Ratigan said. “We’re constantly fundraising, but we’re also building self-sustaining programs like Gravitate. If that platform scales nationally, we may never have to fundraise again.”
Beyond housing, OneHeart provides access to transportation, trauma-informed therapy, and even transitional rental housing to build positive rental history. Its trauma-informed approach is grounded in empathy and real-world experience. Ratigan himself experienced homelessness and was in the foster care system as a child.
“The only test I ever got 100% on was the ACE test—adverse childhood experiences,” Ratigan joked. “But my kids will never have an ACE score. Breaking that cycle is what I’m most proud of.”
For those curious, Ratigan encourages a visit: “Come take a tour. See the chalk wall where guests write down their successes. It’s powerful to see that hope in action.”
OneHeart offers tours, welcomes the public to its HomeBrew coffee shop, and shares updates through its website oneheartrc.org and Facebook page.
