Did you know the third week of September is dedicated to the hard-working people employed in construction trades?! Construction Apprececiation Week is near and dear to our hearts. From our construction staff, to trades companies that help us build and repair homes, to the businesses that supply quality material for our projects, there are hundreds of people who help make housing affordable in our communities. Sponsored by  I Build America , Construction Appreciation Week was celebrated September 16-20.

Hammers and Hardhats

The Doris Preucil Women Build committee is gearing up for its final fundraiser, the annual Hammers and Hardhats auction! Join us on November 14 for an evening of fun featuring a silent and live auction, Wine Pull, and live music!

Tickets are on sale now!

For more information, contact Tami tami@iowavalleyhabitat.org or 319-519-6121.

Recognizing this year’s Interfaith Builds major sponsors

Thank you, Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, and First Presbyterian Church. Without two large contributions from two of our greatest supporters, our Interfaith program may not have gotten off to such a grand start. Who thought we would have been able to build two Interfaith homes the first year we committed to this continuing project?! To all of the members of these two churches, thank you for dedicating these funds, thank you for your help on the build site and Interfaith Committee, and thank you for supporting our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

We need the support of you and your faith community so we can sustain an Interfaith Build every year. What better way to put your faith into action than building a home alongside the future homeowners? How else do we gain and spread understanding, love, and respect for all of God’s children than by coming together for a common purpose? Please contact gabe@iowavalleyhabitat.org to discuss how you and/or your faith community can support this project and help it continue for years to come!

Earlier this month we met Maria, an Iowa City resident facing the challenges of an inaccessible home. Our Helping Hands crew built the ramp pictured here. The picture is evidence that Maria’s days of mindlessly climbing the stairs, or jumping up the stairs two-at-a-time, are forever in her past. But the picture also shows the future; one with better health, family reunions, and coffee with friends. We are happy to lend a hand to make these moments possible for Maria.

Women Build and Red Cedar Chamber Music Host Fundraiser

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. More than $7,000 was raised for Women Build through this event! 

With great excitement, IVHFH announces that it is the recipient of a Johnson County Sustainability Grant.

IVHFH will use the grant to insulate the newly constructed warehouse, which is located on the southeast side of Iowa City. Noting the structure that currently houses temperature sensitive materials and equipment the "Hab Lab" has porous walls and uses an outdated propane furnace, IVHFH staff recently developed a five-year plan to convert the new warehouse into a temperature-controlled space. Installing foam insulation is the first step in this plan.

Many people are unaware of all of the ways we work to improve issues of affordable housing and community development in our 4-county service area.

Please contact gabe@iowavalleyhabitat.org to schedule a time for us to come speak to your business, faith community, organization, or any other group of people! There is much we can share about what we do and our impact on people and communities, the environment, and the economy.