Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity

CVHFH serves families through a combination of three different programs: New construction – building from the ground up in partnership with a qualified family. Home rehabilitation – rehabbing an existing home in partnership with a qualified family. A Brush with Kindness (ABWK) – completing exterior painting and small repairs with a qualified owner-occupied family.

CVHFH is a proven homebuilder with a strong local track record. The organization has been building or rehabilitating homes since 1988 in both Linn and Benton counties, completing more than 250 homes. The driving force behind Habit is its volunteers. These volunteers, working side-by-side with partner families, provide much of the labor necessary for building the home. The work of CVHFH is made possible on an annual basis through significant donations of time, labor and monetary gifts. Businesses, faith-based organizations, foundations and others provide the upfront capital necessary to cover the hard costs of the homes.

The organization establishes objectives for each build, including: 1. To improve overall family and community health and well-being through the building of safe, decent, affordable, new homes in 2020. 2. Recruit and engage dozens of individuals, groups and businesses, and the families, to secure the necessary resources to build the homes. Evaluation of the project will include the following: CVHFH will monitor each family’s ability to stay current with their mortgage and work with them on any issues. A post-close, follow-up survey will indicate each family’s satisfaction with their home and CVHFH. A new home improves each family’s living situation and well-being. The numbers of community partners engaged both with volunteer and financial support will be tracked. CVHFH will also work with key constituents, including neighbors and representatives from the City of Cedar Rapids, to determine its success in delivering on the proposed project. Ensuring these partnerships are successful means that CVHFH will retain a seat at the table for future affordable housing development.

The organization has been building or rehabilitating homes since 1988 in both Linn and Benton counties, completing more than 250 homes. In 2020, CVHFH aims to serve up to 5-8 households through a combination of new home construction and exterior home repairs. This number is slightly lower than previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.