Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity was first approached by the adult children of a homeowner expressing concerns for their 83-year-old mother who lives alone in the house where she has lived her entire life. What makes this particular Helping Hands home repair request unique is that the homeowner lives on a century farm that has been in the same family for 150 years; while many small century farms are disappearing, the homeowner’s daughter told IVHFH, “… [I]t is my mom’s dream to keep the farm and the rich tradition alive that growing up on a family farm instills in family members that are impacted by family farming.”

Realizing this dream on their own comes with several barriers: the old home was not designed for aging-in-place and lacks any accessibility features, and utilizing a walker in an inaccessible home has become increasingly dangerous. Worse yet, the homeowner cannot afford the repairs as she lives solely on a fixed social security income. The family even considered the worst-case scenario—selling the family home and farm to afford housing at a care facility. Facing these impossible choices, the family decided to reach out to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity and their Helping Hands home repair program.

IVHFH was determined to help the homeowner afford the repairs and modifications necessary to continue living safely at home. As staff considered the funding needed to cover the cost of this project, they turned to a long-term partner, Oaknoll Retirement Residence. Oaknoll staff enthusiastically agreed to support IVHFH’s Helping Hands program because of its emphasis on aging-in-place work. Oaknoll’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Roe says, “Oaknoll has supported Habitat for Humanity for many years. Helping our residents create home is what we do at Oaknoll. It has been important for us to share our resources in a way that supports others in our community to have quality, affordable housing—whether that be supporting a new Habitat build, or this year partnering with the Helping Hands project that will allow the owner to live more safely in her home.”

With funding in place, IVHFH quickly got to work aiming to first address the homeowner’s most critical safety and accessibility needs.

Problem (Home Entrance): No entrance to the home could be accessed without encountering steps, making the simple act of entering and exiting a perilous task. The entrance most frequently used by the homeowner opened onto a poured concrete patio space with two steps down to a sidewalk leading to the driveway. Adding to safety concerns, there were no handrails on the patio or leading down the steps.

Helping Hands Solution: IVHFH constructed an accessibility ramp equipped with handrails leading from the sidewalk onto the concrete patio.

With the repairs complete, IVHFH staff recently followed up with one of the homeowner’s daughters who told IVHFH, “[My mom] ... loves it. She tells everyone that comes over, ‘You gotta see my new bathroom.’ And now she's zipping up and down that ramp like no other.” She agreed the repairs were not only critical for her mom’s safety and ability to stay on the farm that means so much to their entire family, but the repairs have eased the stress and lifted the concerns she and her sister had for their mother. She explained, “Our intent is to keep her here; this is where she wants to die, and I will do everything possible to make that happen.” The family is now one big step closer to honoring their mother’s wishes and giving her many more safe and happy years living on a farm that holds a lifetime of memories.

Earlier this year, we completed a critical home repair for David in Iowa City. Originally, David reached out to IVHFH with concerns of a roof leak. At 76 years old and living on a fixed income, he was unable to undertake the project independently and lacked the financial means to hire someone to complete the repair. When Helping Hands staff visited for an initial house evaluation they quickly recognized the home was in dire shape and would require more comprehensive repairs to keep David living safely in his home.

Problem: The metal roofing was severely deteriorated with rusted-through holes and burst seams on several large sections of the roof. We determined the roofing material was irreparable and the entire roof would need replaced. As a result of the roof condition, leaking water caused extensive damage to the ceiling; soaked insulation resulted in a sagging ceiling and mold growth in the kitchen and living room. Additionally, the water had weakened the trailer floor, causing David to fall through in several locations. It was clear to IVHFH staff that the roof leak was threatening the structural viability of the home and David’s safety. In order to keep him safe and secure, it was imperative to carry out repairs to the roof, the ceiling, and the flooring of the home.

What is Women Build Week (WBW)?
IVHFH 2023 Women Build Week is a special kickoff of the Mary Mascher Women Build taking place April 23-29.

WBW EVENTS:
Volunteer Day - April 27, 8 AM-5 PM
Volunteers will help lay sod and complete related tasks at the 2022 Women Build home located at 780 Barber Place in Iowa City. Sign up to volunteer!

Frame Decorating Party - EVENT CANCELLED
This event was originally scheduled to take place at the Habitat Warehouse which was destroyed by a tornado on March 31. You can still participate! Decorate a 2'x4' framing board (stud) for the Women Build home. We ask participants to consider a donation to benefit the Mary Mascher Women Build. Pick up a stud from the Habitat office Monday-Friday 9 AM-4 PM, decorate it, and return it to IVHFH by April 21. Your board will be displayed at our Groundbreaking Ceremony AND you will be invited to our Frame Finder event this fall to see where your stud was placed in the structure of the home. Click here to donate and register. You can also email [email protected] to reserve your 2'x4' and/or register for the Frame-A-Thon and donations can be mailed to IVHFH | 2401 Scott Blvd. SE | Iowa City | IA | 52240.

Women Build Groundbreaking Ceremony - April 29, 10 AM at 2637 Blazing Star Drive, Iowa City
Join the Women Build committee and future homeowners, Etienne and Romance and their children Kenaya, Kevin, Ketan, and Kellian, as we break ground at the site of the 13th Women Build home.

STAY TUNED! We are working on many details of the Mary Mascher Build so check back for more exciting details SOON! If you would like to receive updates and announcements about Women Build, send a message to [email protected].

About the Mary Mascher Women Build
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's 13th Women Build project is in honor of Mary Mascher! Mary served as an Iowa State Representative for 14 terms and taught in the Iowa City Community School District for 33 years. Mary has served the Habitat mission for decades, frequently hitting the build sites with The University Club group, Women with Hammers. Mary joins a group of 13 women in the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity community honored for their achievements, their leadership, and their service to our neighbors.

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Our Goal
The Women Build committee is working together to raise $55,000 in local contributions and recruit volunteers to build an energy-efficient home that will be purchased by a family in need of affordable homeownership. $5,000 will be used to make affordable repairs and/or accessibility modifications for an existing homeowner. Make a donation today to help us reach our fundraising goal!

History of IVHFH Women Build
The first Iowa Valley Habitat Women Build was completed by a committee of volunteers in 2005, the second Women Build was also completed by a committee of volunteers in 2007, but the affiliate did not commit to making the Women Build an annual project until 2011. Since then, it has become a tradition for IVHFH to name each Women Build in honor of an influential woman in the community.

2011-2022 IVHFH Women Build Honorees include: Dottie Ray, Jackie Blank, Jane McCune, Dr. Christine Grant, Jean Lloyd-Jones, Mary Palmberg, Pat Heiden, Kazi Alward, Jan Down, Katie Lammers, Doris Preucil, and Jane Hagedorn.

In the nearly two years since introducing the Emergency Repair and Major Appliance Replacement (ERMAR) program, there has been no shortage of households who are in need of the service. ERMAR allows us to serve some of the lowest-income members of our community, swiftly addressing emergent issues that would otherwise render a home unlivable. We are excited to announce that Edith Jones has transitioned into the position of ERMAR Program Manager. We are so grateful to be able to continue growing this program.

​Prior to accepting the ERMAR position Edith was a ReStore associate, but her history with IVHFH goes back even further. Edith previously served with us as an AmeriCorps service member, working with the construction crew for an entire year. She is also fluent in Spanish, frequently facilitating communication with those we serve. Edith’s diverse skill set, coupled with her passion for lifting up everyone around her, will no doubt serve her very well in this new role. We can’t wait to watch ERMAR continue to develop.

Tina lives with her husband and two children (ages 11 and 5) in a mobile home in Iowa City. The family has been living without air conditioning; with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees many days this summer, Tina who works from home and her children who are out of school for the summer were in an unsafe situation. Adding to worries, Tina suffers from asthma. Given the health and safety concerns for Tina and her children, the family reached out to IVHFH for help.
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Helping Hands stepped in and because of Tina’s health and the forecasted high temperatures, IVHFH determined to address their need as an Emergency Repair and Major Appliance Replacement project (ERMAR). Through IVHFH’s ERMAR service, the air conditioning unit was repaired within just a couple days. Tina says the repair took stress off her shoulders and made her home more livable and comfortable and everyone has been able to sleep better. Tina was especially grateful that this repair meant the family would not have to take out a loan and run up more debt.

To learn more about Helping Hands home repairs and ERMAR services, click here.

Margarita Rodriguez has lived in her home for 31 years. She lives in the Iowa City Forest View community and she has been a source of support for her neighbors for decades. Margarita often puts her neighbors needs before her own, but with the added stress of the Covid-19 pandemic and the looming displacement of Forest View residents, she found her home was in critical need of repairs. Through Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's Helping Hands Emergency Repair service (ERMAR), Margarita was able to make several home improvements.

​Problem: Each time Margarita used her kitchen sink, the water backed up. This issue caused damage to her kitchen floor and cabinets.
Helping Hands Solution: Our ERMAR team discovered the drainpipe from the kitchen sink was installed improperly, which caused inadequate drainage. IVHFH hired a licensed plumber to properly install a new drainpipe so that water could exit the sink with no problem.

Problem: The subflooring in the bathroom of Margarita’s home suffered water damage. As a result, the bathroom floor was unstable, and Margarita feared it would collapse.
Helping Hands Solution: IVHFH hired a contractor to remove and reset the toilet, remove the damaged subflooring, replace it with new plywood, and install new flooring. As a result of these repairs, Margarita no longer has to worry about the floor in her bathroom collapsing.

Last year, IVHFH served homeowner Micki through the Helping Hands home repair program. Micki's home needed several repairs that she could not afford. She explained, "Some repairs I space off because it’s a big expense. [Helping Hands is] kind of like having backup if something bad happens. I don’t have any income right now. If I didn’t have backup during an emergency situation I don’t know what I would do. I don’t have any money for that." Micki has lived in her house for 21 years and thanks to Helping Hands, she can continue living safely in her home with her dog, Lily. Read on to learn how IVHFH addressed Micki's home repair needs.

Problem: Several years ago, a tree branch fell on the backside of the roof of Micki’s home. There was noticeable damage to the shingles and roof decking.
Our Solution: IVHFH hired a licensed contractor to remove the shingles, replace the damaged roof decking, apply underlayment, and install new shingles on the backside of the home.
 
Problem: The stove in Micki’s home was damaged and leaked gas causing a significant safety issue.
Our Solution: IVHFH purchased and installed a new gas stove. Because of this appliance replacement, Micki was able to cook without fear of serious injury.
 
Problem: The fiberglass shower in Micki’s bathroom had multiple cracks. If left untended, these cracks could cause damage to the framing and subflooring.
Our Solution: IVHFH staff installed a new shower basin and fiberglass surround. These new materials prevented serious damage to the structure of the home.

Visit our Helping Hands repair program page for more information or reach out to Aaron at [email protected].

​Helping Hands homeowner, Terri, has hope for a bright, warm, safe holiday season with her family. A year ago, Terri was living in a hotel with her son and his three children. For a month, her mobile home sat vacant in North Liberty with no electricity, heat, or plumbing as she waited for it to be moved to a new mobile home park in Iowa City. During this time, the water lines froze and burst. Further damages were sustained during the move to Iowa City. Terri struggled to pay for a hotel room the entire month, so she had no way to afford the repairs her home needed. That's when she turned to IVHFH.

Through the Helping Hands home repair program, Terri made multiple repairs including electrical work, carpet replacement and subflooring repair, roof repair, and more. Terri says, "The carpet in here was so matted down and cold. With this new carpet, my floors are nice and warm. And the cold air from the doors--I can actually shut my doors and not see the daylight from outside." As she talked about her grandchildren, Terri said, "I want these children to know that they have a safe space." With the help of IVHFH, Terri has achieved that goal.

​Happy anniversary, ERMAR! IVHFH’s Emergency Repair and Major Appliance Replacement program, launched in October 2020, is officially celebrating its first birthday. Throughout this last year, we have been in awe of the community’s response to this program. In its first year, ERMAR completed 27 projects, serving 23 households in Johnson County. We continue to be flooded with calls from homeowners who are in need of this service and look forward to expanding the reach of the program. ERMAR staff are currently working with residents of Forest View Trailer Court, many of whom are in need of major repairs to continue living in their homes safely.