National Recognition for Racial Economic Equity Efforts

We’re proud to be working with Veridian Credit Union, 24/7 BLAC, House of Hope, Try Pie, and the City of Waterloo to address racial economic equity in our community.

The group, led by Veridian, was recently recognized for work leading a Racial Economic Equity (REE) Incubator with community partners in Waterloo, Iowa. Veridian is one of nine credit unions across the U.S. leading REE Incubators designed to take a unique, collaborative approach on efforts to close the racial wealth gap.

The incubator specifically focuses on closing gaps in homeownership and access to other consumer lending for African American households in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Veridian was first selected to lead an REE Incubator by Filene Research Institute in 2023 to explore ways to build upon and replicate outcomes of new and existing community partnerships.

Partners in the Waterloo-based REE Incubator include 24/7 BLAC, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, House of Hope, Try Pie and the City of Waterloo. Together, they created the Achieve Financial Empowerment Program to streamline and expand access to the customized programs offered by each partner, including greater access to mortgages and other consumer loans.

Veridian's Community Inclusion Manager, Angela Weekley, stated the intention of the Achieve program is that "all African Americans in Black Hawk County are liberated to have financial stability and build wealth.”

In July, incubator leaders competed for Filene’s Catalyst Award at the Spark! Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. Veridian's group was recognized in second place, winning $2,500 for the Waterloo-based REE Incubator.

Iowa News Now Features Sites & Bites Bus Tour Event

We were featured on Iowa News Now! Check out the segment promoting our Sites & Bites Bus Tours that are happening this week.

Watch Now

Regular Volunteers

We want to say thank you to all of our regular volunteers who dedicate their time several days every week to work on-site! We could not accomplish what we do without their support!

Cliff Roy, Mick Rosenau, and Nick Halvorson are pictured to the left while working on a challenge at Chena's house.

As our premiere annual event, the Circle Up (formerly "Builder's Circle") Breakfast will highlight inspiring stories of building stability, equity, and hope, as we bring together existing supporters and potential advocates. We'll celebrate our joys, plan for the future, and share our passions with new potential members.

During this 90-minute event, you'll hear directly from one of our current program participants, who will give you a first-hand view of how Iowa Heartland Habitat builds homes, communities, and hope.

You'll also hear from our Executive Director, Ali Parrish, about the growing need for affordable housing in Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, and Buchanan Counties.

This event is free and open to anyone interested in learning more and investing in the mission of Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity.

Join us! It's sure to leave us energized to build!

October 2, 2024 - Prairie Lakes Church Cedar Falls - 7:30am - 9:00am

Reserve your seat today: https://www.webuildhabitat.org/circle-up-breakfast/

Questions? Contact Dusty Wilson at dwilson@webuildhabitat.org or 319-235-9946.

Save the date for the Gallop for Good 5k Run and Walk! This event is hosted by Independence Student Council, and all net proceeds will support Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity.

The race will be held on October 12th, 2024, and check in will start at 8:30 AM. The runners will begin at 9:00 AM and the walkers at 9:10 AM.

When you register online for $20 before September 22nd, you will receive a shirt. Otherwise, you can pay $15 cash the day of the race.

Scan the QR code above or email bkurtdevelopment@gmail.com for more information.

WE Build Waterloo

Students from Hawkeye Community College are putting the finishing touches on an Iowa Heartland Habitat home in the Church Row Neighborhood. Hawkeye Community College is a great partner and an example of the community collaboration we need to accomplish our goals.

WE Build Waterloo is a community-based program that provides career training for those with employment barriers. Hawkeye Community College provides a recognized pre-apprenticeship program, where individuals learn high-demand construction skills and industry-recognized certifications while engaging in residential construction and rehabilitation of homes that are sold to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity homebuyers.

Over the next several months, over 250 Women Build volunteers will build 2 entire houses with our special Iowa Heartland Habitat families in Waterloo.

Angela's home has landscaping work completed thanks to our dedicated volunteer teams.

At Shonda's home, volunteers have been working on insulation.

Log on to the Women Build Portal for all the photos of the work being done - you can find them under each of the families photos labeled "Memories" and "Build Photos".

Women Build Portal

Becky was in desperate need of a home repair because she did not feel safe entering and exiting her own home. She needed a way for not only herself, but the rest of her family to feel comfortable going in and out of their house. Becky is in a wheelchair, and the ramp she had was very steep and unsafe. Her anxiety was high each time she would go somewhere because she was afraid of falling over again.

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity was able to provide Becky with a safe ramp for her home, and she is now able to feel comfortable. She said, “I am so excited to leave my home knowing that I am safe.” She no longer feels like the walls are closing in on her because she is no longer restricted by fear. Her entire family feels very secure, and they are excited to show off their new ramp to their friends and family members.

The Critical Home Repair program offers repairs including but not limited to roofing, siding, exterior painting, window repair/replacement, accessibility, plumbing, electrical and mechanical repair, and furnace replacement. Iowa Heartland Habitat's Critical Home Repair Program is available to modest income families who own their homes in our service area but are unable to afford costly critical repairs and modifications.

For more information on the Critical Home Repair Program, visit:

https://www.webuildhabitat.org/programs/critical-home-repair-program

DONATE TODAY

Thanks to you, our donors, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity positively impacts the economy of our entire community.

As we invest your donations, those dollars ripple across Iowa’s Heartland. And your donation increases sometimes as much as 64% as we put it to work building homes and resilient neighborhoods in Black Hawk, Butler, Bremer, and Buchanan counties.

For every dollar invested by Iowa Heartland Habitat in 2022, $1.64 was injected into our local economy!

We are committed to building, rehabbing and repairing housing to facilitate pride in ownership on a household scale. And we recognize the need for partners and a coordinated strategy with residents, organizations, local officials, and businesses to restore stability on a neighborhood scale, because everyone deserves a decent place to live.

Thank you. Every dollar counts!