Week 24: Building Strong Foundations

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The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. -Matthew 7:25 Grace and peace to you at this most wonderful time of year! As we mark Cedar Valley Habitat’s 25th anniversary, it is so clear how blessed we are to be in relationship with you. Thank you for continuing to support the work of Habitat in this community so generously! While most of us hardly notice such things, our construction team spends a great deal of time making sure the foundations for our Habitat homes are just right. It might not make the local news, but this phase of construction is the most critical piece to ensuring that a home is built to last for our partner families. We believe that the right foundation for our life-changing housing program has been provided and continually blessed by God. But for 25 years now, the home on that foundation has been built, in every sense of the word, by individuals and families like you. Our organization, as well as our great community, has been tested, but houses built on “the rock” are forever homes. We did not meet our goal of serving 25 families this year…we exceeded it! By year’s end, 30 families will have benefited from our range of dynamic housing programs. Six of those beautiful families are pictured above. Thanks to you, these particular families not only have a home of their own for the first time at the holidays, but more importantly, the foundation for a brighter future!   We surely will be tested again next year. With the number of families in-need throughout Linn and Benton counties increasing and aggressive flood-related rebuilding efforts continuing, there is more work than ever to do. But on the strength of a program rooted in faith, good works and unparalleled partnerships, together, we will continue to build on our foundation and change lives! Thank you for believing in and supporting our ministry! With Love and Gratitude, Jeff Capps, Executive Director Joe Strathman, Board President P.S. – Your support helps provide a solid foundation for future Habitat families! Please use the buttons below to donate online or donate by mail to offer your invaluable financial support for our 2014 program!! All gifts postmarked by December 31, 2013 will be recognized as 2013 donations.

Please make a donation today using our secure online donation form or by mail using this downloadable form. We partner with as many families as possible, but the problem of inadequate housing has reached critical proportions globally. Your donation helps to build affordable housing for families in need, providing them with shelter and the hope of a better life.

Week 23: Keeping Hope Afloat

This is a video from last winter featuring our AmeriCorps members!

Week 22: Home Is Where The Heart Is

Week 21: Benton County Chapter

The Benton County Chapter of Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity began in 2001 and serves communities in Benton County including: Atkins, Belle Plaine, Blairstown, Garrison, Keystone, Luzerne, Mount Auburn, Newhall, Norway, Shellsburg, Urbana, Van Horne, Vinton and Walford.

The Benton County Chapter has their own board and tackles several projects every year. In 2012 and 2013, they were able to complete several A Brush with Kindness projects. To learn more, visit www.cvhabitat.org/bentoncounty.

Week 20: 2010 AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon

For the second consecutive year, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity was selected to host the annual Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon. On June 11-18, 2010, more than 500 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps National and AmeriCorps VISTA members from across the country gathered in Cedar Rapids to build, rehabilitate and repair more than 20 homes in partnership with local families.

The need for affordable housing is especially great in the Cedar Rapids area, where nearly 4,000 homes were damaged by fast-rising water during the devastating floods of June 2008, the worst natural and economic disaster in Iowa’s history.

The sheer size of the disaster’s impact on Cedar Rapids is difficult to comprehend. Approximately 9.2 square miles of the city were underwater; floodwaters exceeded the 500-year floodplain level by many feet; and the damage to residential property in Cedar Rapids was valued at more than $736 million.

The 2010 Build-a-Thon will highlight the recovery efforts in the Cedar Rapids area and will showcase three approaches to meeting the housing needs of communities: new construction, rehabilitation and repair.

New construction
The new construction element of the event will took place in northeast Cedar Rapids, on Council Street Northeast between Fox Trail Drive Northeast and Main Street in Robins, Iowa. Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity planned to frame and “dry in” 11 new homes during the Build-a-Thon. One additional crew prepared two more homes for construction by installing floor systems and completing basement framing during the build week. The homes were later completed by local volunteers during the rest of the build season.

Rehabilitation
Working in partnership with Block by Block, a local rebuilding program working primarily on owner-occupied homes, Cedar Valley HFH and National Service Build-a-Thon participants rehabilitated homes in Northwest Cedar Rapids, the area of the city most severely affected by the 2008 floods.

Repair (A Brush with Kindness)
Cedar Valley HFH is participating in Habitat for Humanity International’s exterior home repair program called A Brush with Kindness, part of Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. Teams will worked in the Wellington Heights neighborhood on the east side of the Cedar River.

National Service participant roles for ABWK Build-a-Thon projects included painting, scraping, minor carpentry repairs, door and window replacement, and landscaping on older two- and three-story homes.

Goals of the 2010 Build-a-Thon:

• Engage AmeriCorps members in a meaningful service project, building esprit de corps among members.
• Highlight the impact of Habitat for Humanity International and the Corporation for National and Community Service partnership.
• Increase the overall capacity of Cedar Valley HFH in the wake of the 2008 flooding.
• Develop partnerships with corporations, individuals, communities, businesses, and local and state governments that recognize the need for affordable, decent housing for all.
• Infuse hope into the lives of those affected by the 2008 Iowa flooding.
• Blitz-build, rehab and repair more than 20 homes in Cedar Rapids with families in need.
• Rebuild Iowa!

Week 19: Home Builders Blitz

Local homebuilders partnered with Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity to raise walls on two homes and give hope to two deserving low-income families seeking decent and affordable housing in the greater Cedar Rapids area as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Home Builders Blitz 2012. Groundbreaking for the projects was on Wednesday, April 11 at the construction site, located at 104 10th Avenue in Hiawatha.

Local Habitat for Humanity representatives and Home Builders Association members spoke during a short program.

The nationwide Home Builders Blitz projects seek to build and renovate more than 200 homes, thanks to the skilled labor provided by local professional homebuilders and construction firms.

Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz was a partnership between Habitat affiliates and the building community to build and renovate homes across the United States. Builders and Habitat affiliates work closely to organize all aspects of building, including securing subcontractors and suppliers, fundraising and seeking donations of materials. Builders participating in the program this year will work with more than 100 Habitat affiliates.

“We are excited to partner with the Greater Cedar Rapids Area Home Builders Association and engage them in our work to help families in need of affordable housing,” said Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for Humanity International CEO. “By sharing their talents and skills with us, we are able to increase our capacity to help fulfill the dreams of two local families. We thank the builders for their commitment and dedication to making Home Builders Blitz 2012 a success.”

Locally, a committee of member builders from the Greater Cedar Rapids Area Home Builders Association along with Jeff Capps and Ron Olinger from Habitat for Humanity worked for months with subcontractors and suppliers to obtain materials and professional labor for the build.

"The HBA is so proud to be able to be part of this event. Our members are the best in the industry and really show it once again by stepping up to donate time and materials to build these two houses, said 2012 HBA President Joe Ahmann of Ahmann Design. "We are very pleased to be able to say that nearly 100% of all labor and materials will be supplied by HBA member companies!"

June 8, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz Day 5	June 8, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz Dedication
June 6, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz Day 3	June 7, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz Day 4
June 4, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz - Day 1	June 5, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz Day 2
May 10, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz Site Prep	April 11, 2012 - Home Builders Blitz Groundbreaking

Sponsors for the 2012 Home Builders Blitz included:
Greater Cedar Rapids Area Homebuilders Association

ABC Disposal ABC Supply Abode Construction Action Services Advance Millwork Joe Ahmann Ahmann Design All Clear Allan Custom Homes Jason Anderson Construction The Ar-Jay Center Arctic Insulation A-Tech/Beam Team Big Creek Granite Jody Bowers Cantebury Kitchens Carroll Distributing & Construction Supply Cedar Ridge Homes City of Hiawatha City Revealed Classic Home Remodeling Community Savings Bank Coonrod Crane Service Crescent Electric Supply Company Jeff Denniston DPI Custom Finishes Dean Driscoll Construction EIC Roofing The Element Group Elite Carpentry Engineered Building Design Eric Faaborg Ferguson Enterprises First Supply 5 Star Plumbing Foster’s Heating and Air Conditioning Garage Doors by George Glass Concepts Gypsum Supply Company H&H Home Builders Hall & Hall Engineers Hardscapes Solutions Hawkeye Electric Hawkeye Ready-Mix John Helm Kris Hill Hills Bank & Trust Marty Hoeger

Hope United Church of Christ Wes Howard Hughes Nursery & Landscaping JB Roofing Kelly Concrete KGAN CBS 2 King’s Material Duncan McCallum McGrath Powersports Lisa McMillen-Boese Lowe’s Home Improvement Menards Menefee Drywall Midwest Curb Grinding Milgard Windows Neighborhood Development Corporation Ollinger Doors Trevor Parks People’s Church Plumb Supply Prairie Ridge Estates, LLC RAM Plumbing Dick Ransom Rick Rathje Rathje Construction Drew Retz ReVosWel River of Life Ministries RJ Construction St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Jim Sattler Schumacher Carpets Sherwin-Williams Signs Etc. Source One Cleaning Solutions Springville Ready-Mix Star Equipment Steger Drywall Stetson Building Products Streff Electric Tom Takes Tim Jacobs Homebuilders Kelly Thompson Tom Takes Construction Trevor Parks Construction Company Tri-County Seamless Gutter Van Meter, Inc. Windows by Pella

Week 18: The Zineli Family

The Zeneli family includes Arben(Beni), Kosovare, their daughter, Drenosha (7), their son, Dreni (6), their daughter, Azra (1), and a new baby just born in early November.

Before becoming part of the Youth United program, they all lived in an apartment that has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. The living quarters wer very tight with a growing family and do not allow for the type of outdoor lifestyle that the family appreciates. The children wanted to go out and play but it was difficult to keep an eye on the children to ensure their safety.

They think to the future and only hope for amazing things for their children and their children’s children. They want the best, home and education they can provide for them and having a stable place to call home, that will be a great place to start.

Beni and Kosovare thank everyone for this wonderful opportunity. “We could not be more grateful to volunteers or to Habitat to make this happen for our family. We are very blessed and thankful. Thank you!”

September 26, 2013 - Youth United Home Dedication

May 15, 2013 - Youth United/Kurt Warner First Things First Day