Habitat now partnering with USDA in housing projects
Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity is expanding its efforts beyond home repair and construction to become a resource for all county residents who need help keeping their homes safe and functional.
Assistant director Jeff Lamoureux shared that news as he made his annual budget request at the county supervisors’ meeting Monday.
Lamoureux first reported that in 2018 Habitat completed four home repair projects in the county: a roof in Jefferson; painting and constructing a handicap ramp in Jefferson; and handicap ramps in Paton and Scranton.
He said explained that Habitat of Iowa has partnered with USDA to facilitate its Rural Development grant program. The program helps funds critical home repairs for income-eligible homeowners. Homeowners 62 and older can access up to $7,500 as a grant; those younger than 62 can get a loan at 1 percent interest. The repairs can be to the interior or exterior of the home.
“It’s a really good program,” Lamoureux said. “It allows us to help homeowners that might not fit what Habitat and our volunteers can do.” He said typically Habitat volunteers don’t do interior jobs or plumbing, but by facilitating a Rural Development grant, the homeowner got what he needed.
Lamoureux will work with contractors and get bids on projects, which is particularly helpful for elderly homeowners.
“We want to be a resource people with a housing need can turn to. If we can’t directly help them with our volunteers, we can point them in the right direction to get their housing needs met… That’s the message we’re trying to put out,” he said.
Heart of Iowa Habitat hoped to construct a house in 2019 but has not been able to identify a partner family. Habitat had planned to access USDA funds for the mortgage on the house, but the potential partner families could not meet the USDA guidelines for credit. In the meantime, Habitat will do Helping Hands projects.
Habitat requested $5,000 in financial support from the county, the same request as for the current year.
Roger Aegerter, director of the Greene County Historical Society, also made a budget request. He reported 2018 has been “a different year” at the museum, due in large part to the Smithsonian Institute Home Town Teams exhibit brought in by Jefferson Matters: Main Street. There were 2,600 visitors to the museum, including all county students in grades 2-11. Volunteers put in 1,400 hours at the museum, with 107 different people volunteering during the Home Town Teams exhibit.
The Historical Society requested $5,900 for the current year and is asking for $10,000 for FY20. Aegerter said the ceiling in the 100-year-old building is sagging about a foot. He said it’s a rather unique roof-supported ceiling, and the preliminary engineering report recommends replacing the entire ceiling.
At this time, the Society has no idea how much the work will cost. Aegerter said the Society will pursue grant funds and hold a fundraiser for the ceiling project.
The supervisors don’t act on budget requests when they’re presented, but make those decisions as part of the total budget process.
