Tuesday, November 19, 2013

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.



Tuesday, November 12, 2013

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!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

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