ABOUT US

The mission of Homes for Iowa is to reduce recidivism and help solve Iowa’s housing shortage. It will do this by training incarcerated men in building trades while constructing single family homes sold throughout Iowa.

Homes for Iowa, Inc. (a 501c3 organization) was incorporated in 2019 by Mike Norris, executive director of SEIRPC. The board roster was populated by March of that year and work on the first home started in May. The homes and homebuilding program are patterned on the South Dakota Governor’s House program, managed by the South Dakota Housing Finance Authority. The houses are quality, 1,200sf designs featuring 3BR, 2BA, 2x6 construction, clear-span floor trusses and special touches throughout, like polished window sills and front window seating area. The homes are shipped in one piece and delivered to the building site. The homes are built at the Homes for Iowa, Inc. building site, outside of the Newton Correctional Facility near Newton, IA. Iowa Prison Industries is contracted to build the homes and train the crew members.

In 2020, seven homes were moved to the following locations:

1-   Jefferson (Region XII)

2-   Jefferson (Region XII)

3-   Perry (Habitat)

4-   Manning (Private for-profit)

5-   Grundy Center (Private non-profit)

6-   Oelwein (City)

7-   West Point (Private for-profit)

In 2021, homes cost $75,000 and are delivered up to 150 route miles; each mile delivered past 150 route miles is $100/mile. Home orders are taken through Iowa’s Councils of Governments.

MORE INFORMATION

Homes for Iowa 

APPLICATIONS

Homes for Iowa New Housing Program

DID YOU KNOW?

SEIRPC received a 2019 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Homes for Iowa program.

The Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional community and economic development and improved quality of life.