2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-186 Iowa Statewide -Weekly Opt Out Update
Des Moines, Iowa
Cindy M. Jenkins (515) 323-2463

This is a weekly report prepared and sent electronically to several interested organizations, updating on the status of "opt outs". In Fiscal Year 1999, the HUD multifamily expiring Sec. 8 rental assistance contracts were extensive across Iowa. To come to the aid of affected residents, many public and private agencies banded together to provide support and assistance as needed. The weekly opt out update has proven an invaluable and regular source of current information to those involved in the ongoing situation.

2000-2882 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Program
Des Moines, Iowa
Army R. Brantley (515) 280-8113

This is a free six week neighborhood leadership development training program series for residents and agencies active in the Des Moines Enterprise Community. Participants learn the difference between effective leadership and management, how to understand each other by thriving on diversity, communication and listening skills and organizing and conducting meetings.

2000-257 Iowa Statewide - Neighborhood Housing Services of Des Moines - Rural Outreach Committee
Des Moines, Iowa
Kathleen A. Moretz (515) 277-6647

This project is aimed to help rural communities in 43 underserved Iowa counties build affordable housing through financial and technical assistance and other supportive services. Some of the programs available are reduced interest rate loans with reduced down payments, homebuyer education and outreach and a tool lending library.

2000-382 Iowa Statewide - Seeds of Connection Meeting Series
Des Moines, Iowa
Ellen King-Huntoo (515) 284-4663

A partnership between the State Outreach Council, the Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, to help farm families and communities affected by the farm crisis. To develop a statewide network, these groups have partnered to form a series of twenty "Seeds of Connection" meetings throughout the state. One purpose of the meetings is to provide an opportunity for USDA agencies to partner with faith organizations and exchange information on available resources for families in crisis. HUD CB staff have also participated in the meetings and have provided useful information on HUD resources and initiatives.

2000-511 Stay ‘n Play Child Care
Clinton, Iowa
Debra Vath (319) 243-1289

The Clinton Housing Authority has, with support from HUD and many other groups, created an innovative child care center and learning center to meet the needs of low income families in the community. The staff involves subsidy assistance in addition to child care, food, local training opportunities, and job training. The facility, termed a learning center, has high usage by families receiving HUD public housing and Sec. 8 assistance.

2000-180 Public Policy Change-
Dubuque, Iowa
David Harris (319) 589-4239

Using an approach to managing change called appreciative inquiry, key Dubuque stakeholder groups explored their past history through interviews and stories about the best of the past and factors of their success. Coming together in focus groups and in large, diverse, dialogue and action groups, they built on positive past and understood their present situation through shared stories, experiences, data and analyses. They created new possibilities for the future through exploration and discovery of common ground. In an action conference in February, 2000, 82 key stakeholders in this system came together and set priorities for the future and made commitments to continue their work in task forces to realize the implementation of the changes they desired. The priorities for action are downtown comprehensive plan; develop and enhance mixed neighborhoods; create livable neighborhoods and affordable housing opportunities, and improved residential occupancy rates.

2000-2895 Oakridge Neighborhood Enrichment Center
Des Moines, Iowa
Margaret Toomey (515) 244-7702

This is an intensive six week job training program. It begins with a pre-test and goal setting for each participant, then proceeds to soft skill training areas, including self awareness, self esteem, conflict management, lifestyle choices, interviewing, career action planning, personal values, sexual harassment, substance abuse, application forms, resumes and cover letters. Each individual is assigned a job coach who will teach all classes and a family advocate to assist with personal needs. The second component of the program is development of hard skills in computer literacy in the most widely used programs including microsoft, word and excel. Upon completion, each participant enters a job placement program and begins interviewing with companies.

2000-181 New Lawn Apartments
Des Moines, Iowa
Stella Neill (515) 244-8308

The winter of 1998-99 could have been the last for this old, run down building in Des Moines’ Enterprise Community, had it not been for Anawim Housing, a local non profit group. With financial help from the city of Des Moines (HOME funds) , Polk County Housing Trust Fund, Iowa Finance Authority and Federal Home Loan Bank, Anawim took over the building. Rehab began in December, 1998, with removal of all plaster and lathe. Rotten studs were replaced. Interior load bearing walls were fortified. Ceiling joists were replaced and a new roof was installed. The new lawn, with a new life, is now fully completed and leased, with seven three-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment on ground level. The building is an enhancement to the 6th avenue corridor, a center piece of the Des Moines enterprise community.

2000-231 Community Outreach Partnership Community
Des Moines, Iowa
Amy R. Brantley (515) 280-8113

COPC is a three year venture, a unique partnership between Iowa State University and the Des Moines Enterprise Community focusing on empowerment and planning, affordable and fair housing, and neighborhood revitalization. The process is dynamic in nature; the COPC intent is to empower the designated neighborhoods to make and influence decisions about the future of the community.

2000-188 Affordable Housing Task Force
Councils Bluffs, Iowa
Susan Maiwald (712) 322-4436

This is a venture by several non profit groups in Council Bluffs to develop a housing study for the Council Bluffs area. With collaboration among the non profits, an affordable housing task force was created to assess housing needs and conditions leading to an affordable housing plan. This task force and study have served as a focal point for the non profit groups and for city officials in addressing critical affordable housing needs. The uniqueness of the project is the collaboration, rather than competition, among the non profit organizations in this project.

2000-313 Homeless Transportation Project
Sioux City, Iowa
Abbie Gaffey (712) 279-6255

The Sioux City Homeless Transportation Project operates three nineteen passenger ADA accessible passenger buses daily, transporting homeless children from four emergency shelters to the schools they were attending prior becoming homeless. Previously, homeless children were enrolled in the nearest school to wherever they were residing at the time. Regular rides are scheduled and the client is only responsible for contacting dispatch if there is a cancellation. The buses look no different from any ordinary transit service, thus avoiding stigmatizing or stereotyping of the "homeless bus".

2000-512 Polk County Housing Trust Fund
Des Moines, Iowa
Jayne L. Jochem (515) 883-2509

The Polk County Housing Trust Fund is an example of a public/private partnership working towards improving and increasing the affordable housing in Polk County for low-income families. Seven non profit housing providers came together to form the trust fund. Twenty private companies have provided financial support to the trust fund over the past three years, in addition to Polk County and HUD and the state of Iowa. All trust fund monies are used for families with low or very low incomes. In the short time the fund has been in existence, it has provided financial assistance for over 800 households.

2000-551 Building Blocks -Community Housing Development Corporation
Des Moines, Iowa
Carol Bower (515) 244-7798

The CHDC is a CHDO, a HUD-approved community housing development organization. Through its building blocks program, the CHDC concentrates on revitalization of neighborhoods surrounding city schools in the enterprise community. Existing older homes are restored for sale, as well as new construction in in-fill areas. Through the building block program, distressed neighborhoods have been brought back and blight trends are being reversed. Twenty six homes were restored around an elementary school, and have led to serious discussions of repair or replacement of the school on site.

2000-790 Iowa Southeast - Creative Leasing of Public Housing
Agency, Iowa
Gordon Aistrope (515) 937-5222

Area XV Regional Housing Agency has entered into an agreement with two community action agencies to help with the leasing of 87 units of public housing within a nine county rural area. The housing agency agreed to utilize the CAA neighborhood centers to advise low income families of the availability of public housing units in their respective jurisdictions. CAA staff take applications for public housing and fax the completed applications directly to the housing agency. Once a unit is leased under this arrangement, the housing agency pays the CAA $10 per month during the term of the lease.

2000-1274 Renew Waterloo
Waterloo, Iowa
John R. Rooff (319) 291-4301

This is a unique public/private partnership created under the leadership of Mayor Rooff, intended to promote major revitalization of Waterloo’s older neighborhoods, and to improve the city’s responsiveness to neighborhood issues. The initiative has three primary components; Waterloo Housing Partnership (public and private groups including several local lending institutions), Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Services. Through this partnership, a wide and useful array of incentives and resources are available to restore targeted neighborhoods. Incentives include downpayment assistance, property tax abatements, forgivable second mortgages, low down payment loans, and more. Substantial HUD funds, including HOME, are being used. Code enforcement is a major component of the initiative also, addressing such issues as inoperable vehicles, yard debris, and sidewalk snow removal. The third component of Renew Waterloo is Neighborhood Services. This office coordinates the city’s efforts to address issues by providing a central point of contact between twenty three recognized neighborhood organizations and city departments. Neighborhood Services receives requests for services and contacts the appropriate city department to resolve same.

2000-1275 Sec. 8 Action Conference
Dubuque, Iowa
David Harris (319) 589-4230

Dubuque’s housing stock is recognized as among the oldest in Iowa and presents many difficulties for rental property owners. With steady tenant turnover, in multi-unit buildings, it is not uncommon for the same buildings to be inspected several times during the year resulting in numerous orders for the city housing department for repairs, straining the relationship between the city and the owners. This negatively impacts housing choice for tenant families and results in concentration of Sec. 8 units in older areas. This and other issues were addressed in a dramatic and impactive housing summit conference in the city, which has been very helpful in de-fusing tensions which had developed among the above groups, and getting the city back on the track to a better housing environment.

2000-300 Affordable Homeownership Program
Sioux City, Iowa
Doug Grindberg (712) 279-6276

Sioux City has an ongoing program to provide downpayment assistance to help low income families purchasing their first home. The program provides qualifying families with a forgivable loan/second mortgage, which they may use as a down payment to cover the closing costs on a home anywhere in the city. At the end of five years, if the family has not sold or vacated the home, the loan is forgiven and the second mortgage is released. Financing includes FHA, VA and other community-based financing programs targeted to low- and moderate income families. The program has evolved over the past five years, with modifications each year to ensure its ongoing usefulness and positive impact.

2000-222 Iowa South- Neighborhood Housing Services Homeownership Van
Des Moines, Iowa
Kathleen A. Moretz (515) 277-6647

Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., a central Iowa-based non-profit, has acquired a 35 foot Winnebago recreational vehicle and converted it into a mobile field office for use as a local point of contact and outreach in rural communities across southern Iowa, to reach out to underserved communities and populations and inform and educate on Fair Housing, Homeownership and housing assistance resources.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011