Welcoming a new beginning!
Jakeways and Kaitlyn Mendoza recently returned to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation with a shared goal: to build a life and a home in the community they care about.
Jakeways, who is originally from the area, always knew he wanted to move home, but like many who leave to pursue education and careers, he was faced with the housing shortage on the reservation. Community members are often encouraged to go out, earn degrees, and bring that knowledge home. The question becomes—where do you live when you return?
Both Jakeways and Kaitlyn teach at Timber Lake High School and were living in school housing while they saved money and planned their next step. After nearly 8 years of renting, from college apartments to teacher housing, they were ready for something that was truly theirs.
With a baby on the way, that turning point came quickly. “We were ready to grow our family,” Kaitlyn stated. “We wanted a little more space, a garage, and a home of our own.”
When they began exploring financial options, they kept hearing positive things about Four Bands Community Fund.
“When we started the whole loan process, we heard that Four Bands was really great, reliable, and friendly so we went ahead and took the leap to start our pathway to homeownership.” Kaitlyn continued to say, “I had so many questions, and they were always able to answer them. Communication was always clear.”
The Mendoza family official moved into their new home on December 23, 2025. Just three days later, they welcomed their newest family member. “It was kind of crazy,” Kaitlyn laughed. “We were only in the house for a couple of days before we had the baby.” The most rewarding part of homeownership for the Mendoza’s is simple, but meaningful.
Jakeways shared, “The experience was inspiring and rewarding. I’ve always wanted to come back home to my reservation and to teach kids and help set them up to be successful in school and life. One specific moment that felt rewarding in the process was my son being born. He can now live and grow up in the same town like I did and have the opportunities to be successful and live in a nice home thanks to Four Bands.”
Now they are building equity, stability, and a future for their growing family—all while continuing to invest in the students and community they serve every day.
Their advice for others considering homeownership:
“Find a person or a place like Four Bands that is very reliable and can explain things to you. I am not an expert in this, but find your person that is, so they can help you be successful.”
At Four Bands Community Fund, we work alongside families to help them achieve their financial goals and create pathways to generational stability. For the Mendoza family, that pathway led home—just in time to welcome their newest beginning.
