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Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity
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​habitat
​news

City of Iowa City Supports Women Build With Climate Action Grant

6/27/2022

 
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As many of our long-time supporters are aware, we take great care to build energy efficient homes. These measures ensure utility costs are low and reduce consumption of resources. This year’s Jane Hagedorn Women Build project is no different as we will install spray foam insulation, which seals gaps and prevents air penetration, Energy Star appliances, and an energy recovery ventilation system.

In addition to these features, and with the support of a Climate Action Grant from the City of Iowa City, we are upping our electrification efforts by installing an air-source heat pump HVAC system, and a heat pump water heater. Installing electric appliances instead of appliances that use fossil fuels, also known as electrification, helps reduce a home’s carbon footprint. As renewable sources increasingly provide electricity to our homes in conjunction with utility providers’ efforts to switch to wind and solar power, heating and cooling with electricity reduces carbon emissions. Installing an air source heat pump will allow this Women Build project to be heated with clean electricity, rather than a gas furnace. New advances will allow this heat pump to be effective year-round, including on some of the coldest winter days. The IVHFH staff and board of directors want to thank the City of Iowa City for support of this initiative and investing in efforts to reduce our community’s carbon footprint. Read more about our efforts to build energy efficient homes.

IVHFH COMPLETES WOMEN BUILD HOME REPAIR

5/3/2021

 
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Through Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s Helping Hands repair program, a single-mother in North Liberty has replaced the flooring throughout her home.
 
Homeowner Geri’s son, Tajiri, has severe allergies. As a baby, Tajiri was experiencing hair loss, breathing problems, skin irritations, and more, but it was difficult to determine what was causing his symptoms. At the time, the family had pets in their home, but suspecting an allergy was causing Tajiri’s health problems, Geri removed the pets from their home. Later testing showed Tajiri suffers from several allergies including pet dander. Tajiri continues to struggle and his allergies make it difficult for him to sleep. Even after years of not having pets, the pet dander in the carpet throughout their home and vent/duct system triggers Tajiri’s allergies. Geri says, “If you have a situation where a child has severe allergies and is allergic to the home, what do you do? Not everybody can just move to another home. It really was a no-win situation.”
 
As part of the repair project, Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity will had the vents and ducts in the home cleaned. Sobaski Abbey Carpet and Floor donated the labor, materials, and supplies to remove all the carpeting in Geri and Tajiri’s home and replace it with vinyl plank flooring.

Homeowner Geri says, “I tell my foster children from day one, "No matter how it looks, you are never alone. There's always someone in your corner, they just have to find you." I got that saying from my grandmother. When I found out what was wrong with my son and not being able to do what I needed to help him, as a single mother, I felt helpless. But true to my grandmother's words [Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity has] now proved to me that I too, am not alone.”

IVHFH would like to thank Sobaski Abbey Carpet and Floor for their generous sponsorship of this project! ​ 

This project is part of Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s annual Women Build program. The 2021 Women Build is in honor of Jane Hagedorn, master plumber and former owner of Bea Day Plumbers. Jane and the IVHFH Women Build committee are working with Habitat staff to raise $55,000 to support construction of a new Habitat home in Iowa City as well as the Helping Hands repair for Geri and Tajiri.

Geri and Tajiri's project was recently featured on KCRG: https://www.kcrg.com/2021/04/30/north-liberty-mom-receives-free-flooring-to-help-autistic-son-with-severe-allergies/.

THANK YOU!

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Jane Hagedorn Named IVHFH Women Build Honoree

3/4/2020

 
IVHFH has named Jane Hagedorn its honoree for the 12th annual Women Build. Former University of Iowa softball coach, turned master plumber and business owner, Jane has always committed to carving out time to give back to many local organizations and causes. Jane Hagedorn has played an integral role in each of our Women Build annual projects, so we could not think of anyone more deserving to be the honoree of our 12th annual build. Read more about Jane Hagedorn.

Women Build is a program developed by Habitat for Humanity as a way to engage and empower women in construction. The goal is not meant to exclude men, but to include women who may not feel comfortable volunteering at a male-dominated construction site. Women Build also highlights and honors the talented and hard-working women in our community. 
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Each year, IVHFH seeks an influential woman in the community to honor with the Women Build. The honoree works with a committee of women to raise $55,000 in local donations and recruit volunteers to help a local family build an affordable home and to help an existing homeowner make affordable repairs or accessibility modifications to their home. Along with the efforts of the Women Build committee, a local family will partner with IVHFH to build an energy-efficient home that they will purchase with an affordable home mortgage. The Habitat homeownership program ensures that the household pays no more than 30% of their income to cover housing costs allowing more of their funds to be dedicated toward other essentials like education, health and transportation. Additionally, Women Build will support a local resident in need of critical home repairs and/or accessibility modifications. Through Helping Hands, a homeowner will receive affordable repairs so they can live more safely in their existing home. 

Jane and the Women Build committee encourage everyone, regardless of gender, to take part in any way they can. We need supporters to swing a hammer on the construction site, provide food for volunteers, make in kind donations or financial donations and attend fundraising events. ​
​There will be many events, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to support this project throughout the year, but the Women Build committee is asking for you to kick things off with a donation and/or a registration to the Christine Grant 5K for Women Build on May 9.

Read more about Jane Hagedorn and Women Build.
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Make a donation to the Jane Hagedorn Women Build.
​

Register for the Christine Grant 5K for Women Build.
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Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity Kicks of Women's Home Improvement Confidence Course

2/3/2020

 
In January, Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity kicked off a 12 week home improvement course designed to give women an opportunity to learn how to do various home improvement tasks in a safe, nonjudgmental environment while remodeling a Habitat for Humanity home in Iowa City. The Women's Home Improvement Confidence Course is a series of Saturday classes where participants are introduced to the challenges and obstacles faced in a real-world remodeling environment. Classes include hands-on experience with:
  • Demolishing and remodeling a kitchen
  • Major and minor drywall repair
  • Tiling and grouting a kitchen backsplash
  • Shower tiling
  • Replacing ceiling fans and light fixtures
  • Replacing interior and exterior doors and jambs
  • Trim and finish work
  • Installing various types of flooring
  • Plum, square, and level
  • Sequencing of improvements

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity wants to thank Sandra Steil of MMS Consultants for her essential role in getting these workshops established. Sandra says, "My hope is that as women take these classes, they will develop confidence to take on other projects within their own homes." Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity plans to continue offering similar educational opportunities to the public. Stay tuned for updates on the Women's Home Improvement Confidence course and more!

Sushi Party for 8 in Hammers and Hardhats Live Auction

10/30/2019

 
​A Women Build tradition continues at this year's Hammers and Hardhats fundraiser with a generous donation from long-time Women Build supporter, and 2016 Women Build co-honoree, Kazi Alward. Kazi will host a party at her home and will teach guests the art of making sushi.
Sushi Party for 8
Hammers & Hardhats
​Online Auction
Kazi, whose expertise comes from watching her mother, provides all of the tools, utensils, and ingredients in her kitchen. The evening starts with a glass of wine and snacks as guests help prepare the ingredients and then everyone sits down while Kazi demonstrates how to roll the sushi. After the demonstration, everyone rolls their own sushi with fillings of their choice:​
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  • Fish
  • Deep Fried Shrimp
  • Bulgogi Beef
  • Imitation Crab
  • Smoked Salmon
  • Eggs
  • Cucumber
  • Carrots
  • Avocado
  • Sweet potato
  • Asparagus
  • Cream Cheese
  • Spinach
  • Mango
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The meal is accompanied by miso soup, sake, and pickled ginger. Dessert is mochi ice cream with coffee or tea. Guests take home what they can’t eat along with the sushi rolling mat, which is theirs to keep.

Kazi's Sushi Party will be auctioned off  in an online auction at Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's annual Women Build fundraiser, Hammers and Hardhats. Proceeds support construction of the Jane Hagedorn Women Build home and Women Build Helping Hands repair. 

For your chance to bid on Kazi's Sushi Party, along with many other fantastic auction packages, visit our auction website today! For more information, email tami@iowavalleyhabitat.org or call 319-519-6121.

Keystone, Colorado Getaway

10/24/2019

 
Long-time Habitat supporters, Jan and Jim Down, have generously donated a week-long stay at their condo in Keystone, Colorado to be auctioned off at Hammers and Hardhats online October 21-30. The winner of this auction item will stay at the Down's fantastic 2-bedroom condo which can easily accommodate at least 8 guests. *See blackout dates below.*
Colorado Getaway
Hammers and Hardhats
​Online Auction
This cozy home features:
  • Wood-burning fireplace
  • Deck
  • Fully-equipped kitchen
  • Wi-fi and cable TV
  • Washer and dryer
  • Ski locker
  • Linens and towels
  • Nearby grocery store and bus stop
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New to Keystone?! Keystone is a great place for a vacation! It's a haven for skiers and snowboarders of all levels and abilities. Summer in Keystone is perfect for hiking and biking mountain trails. Enjoy year-round entertainment and shopping in Keystone Village.

Winners of this vacation stay can consider many exciting activities as they plan their stay:
  • Skiing, snowboarding, or sledding on snow-packed trails
  • A moonlit gondola trip and dining atop North Peak
  • Hiking, biking, canoeing, music, and food festivals in the summer
  • Easy access to golf and horseback riding
  • Swimming pool in an adjacent building
  • Nearby tennis courts
  • So much more! Those who are contemplating this vacation stay should research Keystone Resort Winter Activities or Keystone Resort Summer Activities​​​
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*Winners will arrange their stay with the Downs. The condo will NOT be available the following dates:
  • Dec 20, 2021 - Jan 2, 2022
  • Feb 24 - Mar 31, 2022
  • Aug 14 - Sept 24, 2022
  • Dec 23 - Jan 2, 2023
**Other dates will become unavailable as people make their reservations.**
***Masks are required in buildings, and all buildings including decks are non-smoking both inside and out.***
For your chance to bid on a week-long stay at this Keystone condo, along with many other fantastic auction packages, visit our auction website today! Proceeds will benefit the Jane Hagedorn Women Build. For more information, email tami@iowavalleyhabitat.org or call 319-519-6121.

Hammers and Hardhats Live Auction Features Riverboat Cruise

10/14/2019

 
Terry and Johanna Abernathy have generously donated a riverboat cruise on the Coralville Reservoir to the Hammers and Hardhats auction fundraiser on November 14. Winners will enjoy a 3 to 4 hour cruise for 20 people on the Abernathy's beautiful houseboat, Ausgezeichnet. While guests relax and view the scenic shoreline, they will also enjoy a breakfast with mimosas provided by the Doris Preucil Women Build committee. This auction package would be perfect for a special birthday, a wedding or baby shower, a corporate retreat, or simply a fun gathering for friends and family. 

The breakfast riverboat cruise will be auctioned off in a live auction at Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's annual Women Build fundraiser, Hammers and Hardhats. Additionally, there are several other exciting packages that will be featured in the live auction including a week-long stay at a condo in Keystone, Colorado, a private sushi party hosted by a Women Build committee member, a private morel mushroom hunt, and more! There will also be nearly 100 items up for grabs in a silent auction at the event. Proceeds support construction of the Doris Preucil Women Build home and Women Build Helping Hands repair. 

Winners will make arrangements with the donors to schedule the breakfast cruise in summer of 2020. 
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Morels and Mint Juleps Experience up for Auction at Hammers and Hardhats

10/1/2019

 
The Doris Preucil Women Build committee is excited to announce they have received a unique and exciting donation for their upcoming Hammers and Hardhats auction fundraiser on Thursday, November 14. Habitat supporters, Lyse Strnad and Tom Leavenworth will arrange a private morel mushroom hunt on their property in Cedar County.

In May 2020, the winner of this experience and one guest will come out to Cedar County to join a group of morel mushroom hunters in hundreds of acres of private timber. Participants should wear their oldest, briar-torn clothes and waterproof boots or shoes that can get wet. The winners will be provided with a mushroom stick to use for the day. This is a vigorous activity with lots of steep hills and creeks and brushy woods along the Cedar River. The team will use deer paths and horse trails on the hike.

After several hours of hunting, the group will come back to Lyse and Tom's house where all findings will be split evenly among all the hunters all while the group sips on delicious mint juleps served by the hosts.

Never hunted morel mushrooms before? Lyse and Tom will teach you all the tricks and take you to their best hunting spots. There are no guarantees except that you will have a lot of fun and a great hike on beautiful land. 

The Morels and Mint Juleps package will be auctioned off in a live auction at Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's annual Women Build fundraiser, Hammers and Hardhats. Additionally, there are several other exciting packages that will be featured in the live auction including a week-long stay at a condo in Keystone, Colorado, a private sushi party hosted by a Women Build committee member, a riverboat cruise on the Coralville Reservoir for 20 people, and more! There will also be nearly 100 items up for grabs in a silent auction at the event. Proceeds support construction of the Doris Preucil Women Build home and Women Build Helping Hands repair. 
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Morel Hunter Lyse Strnad Discusses Morel Hunting with KCRG

Doris Preucil Women Build Hosts Fundraiser with Red Cedar Chamber Music

9/23/2019

 
In August, Doris Preucil and the Women Build committee along with Red Cedar Chamber Music hosted a fundraising event featuring food, drinks, commentary from the future Women Build homeowners, and live music performances by Doris Preucil, Bill Preucil, Miera Kim, and Carey Bostian. Miera Kim is Red Cedar Chamber Music's Executive Director, and Carey Bostian is the organization's Artistic Director. The couple hosted guests in their home, the historic Musser-Dixon house in Iowa City. Doris Preucil and the Women Build committee want to express their sincere thanks to everyone who attended the event and made generous donations in support of construction of the Doris Preucil Women Build home and Women Build Helping Hands repair project. Special thanks to the wonderful volunteers and donors who helped host the event, Miera Kim and Carey Bostian, Thomas Leavenworth and Lyse Strnad, Gary and LaDonna Wicklund, Dale and Patty Roberts, and the Women Build committee. More than $7,000 was raised through this event! 
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Women Build to Support its First Repair Project

9/5/2019

 
For more than ten years, members of the Women Build Committee have come together to raise money, swing hammers, and support homeownership for first-time buyers. Because of their can-do attitude and willingness to roll up their sleeves, Women Build has become one of IVHFH's great successes. In addition to assisting in all practical matters related to building a house each year, the women of the committee have long inspired our affiliate and pushed us to discover new ways to support affordable homeownership. And as we grew, the Women Build Committee grew alongside -always demonstrating the values that make Women Build so successful. So when IVHFH staff made a request to this year's committee to sponsor a Helping Hands project, the committee unsurprisingly embraced the challenge and got to work. And because of that work, a woman who was facing the problems that accompany inadequate housing can now bathe safely, get in and out of her house without falling, and perhaps even grow a garden next year. So, to the women of the Women Build Committee, past and present, we say thank you. Thank you for supporting this project. Thank you for inspiring us to be better. Thank you for showing us how far a little grit and determination can take us.
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Problem
Homeowner Pam suffers from chronic pain and her bathtub presented a significant hazard. The ledge made entering and exiting dangerous as putting all of her weight on one leg caused her to lose her balance. Also, she had nothing to steady herself with so bathing came with multiple risks.
Helping Hands Solution
We installed a walk-in tub with therapeutic jets and grab bars. Pam can now enter and exit by simply opening the door and stepping in the tub. When she feels unsteady, she can use the grab bars to help her balance. We also installed a removable shower faucet so she can sit down and take a quick shower when she is in a hurry.
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Problem
The walkway leading to Pam's front porch was very uneven. The path was especially treacherous at night and during the winter months. These hazards were made even more dangerous by Pam's chronic pain.
Helping Hands Solution
We mudjacked the path to make it level. A concrete patch was then applied to the areas that were still unlevel and/or cracked.
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Problem
The back porch was uneven with a large step between the first and second step. Additionally, the rails were not secured well and offered little support. These problems conspired with Pam's health to prevent her from gardening this year.
Helping Hands Solution
Our construction staff turned one large and unsafe step into two smaller, more manageable, steps. Our staff then added secure rails and a short walkway at the bottom. Pam is now excited by the prospect of growing a garden next year.
Do you need affordable home repairs or accessibility modifications? ​
​Email scott@iowavalleyhabitat.org or call 319-337-8949.
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Our Mission: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

Our Vision: 
A world where everyone has
a decent place to live.

Our Values:
- Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ.
- Focus on shelter.
- Advocate for affordable housing.
- Promote dignity and hope.
- Support sustainable and transformative development.
Donate
​Volunteer
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Contact us
Habitat for Humanity International

​
We welcome all who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live. Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize.
​Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.

Address 2401 Scott Blvd. Iowa City, Iowa 52240        Phone (319) 337-8949         Email info@iowavalleyhabitat.org


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  • Home
  • About Habitat
    • Who We Are
    • Why Housing Matters
    • Programs >
      • Homeownership
      • Helping Hands
      • Financial Literacy & Homeowner Education
      • ReStore
      • Global Builds
      • Women Build
    • Advocacy: Cost of Home
    • Interfaith Committee
    • Green Initiatives
    • Board of Directors
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Donate
    • Donate Today
    • Sponsorship
    • Cars for Homes
    • Gifts-in-Kind
  • Volunteer
    • Help us Build
    • Volunteer on a Construction Site
    • Volunteer in the ReStore
    • Other Ways to Volunteer
    • Volunteer FAQs
  • Own a Home
    • Affordable Homeownership
    • Homeowner Stories >
      • Yasir & Rena
      • Fiston & Nadege
      • Mogahid & Rahma
      • Betty & Emma
      • Habtamu & Ebsitu
      • Hatim & Sayeda
      • Mulumeoderwa & Mwangaza
      • Nasr & Rasha
    • Criteria and Application
    • Homeownership FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Employment Opportunities
    • COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) UPDATES
    • News
    • Affordable Housing Bible Study