Director’sNote
CarrieWoerdeman,ExecutiveDirector
This has been a busy and fulfilling summer for the HOME, Inc. team, culminating with two wildly successful Volunteer Days of Service that took place on September 10th and 11th. Over 100 volunteers worked alongside HOME, Inc. team and board members to complete 6 impactful projects and createmeaningfulcommunityimpact.
Thanks to our generous supporters, we’ve just added a Property Development Coordinator to join our team this month and we look to bring onanotherHousingCounselorinthenextfewweeks.Thesetwopositionswill allow us to continue to grow our programs and extend our reach to more families in our service area, providing greater opportunities for homeownershipandlong-termhousingstability.
We are grateful to everyone who volunteered, supported us financially, or cheered us on these last few months and we look forward to building upon oursuccessinthenextquarter!
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES
OUR FIRST ANNUAL VOLUNTEER DAY OF SERVICE
“What you are doing for our community is tremendous, and I could not be prouder to have been part of this event.”
This September we had our first annual Day of Service where over 100 volunteers came and helped us with a variety of projects around the Des Moines metro! In the course of two 8 hour days, we completed six projects ranging from community weeding projects, removing a poisonivyinfestationfromabackyard,ahouse rescue, raised garden installations, and building fences for two families - one recoveringfromafireandtheotherforasingle mother who rose up from section 8 housing withthehelpofHOME,Inc.andisnowlookingto openanin-homedaycare.
We had two wildly successful days and completed all of our projects! We could not have done this without the help of our incredible volunteers! We are so grateful to everyone who took time out of their busy lives to come and help us accomplish these good works for our community and neighbors. Our volunteers transformed spaces and lives over thesetwodays!
DAY OF SERVICE PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: HOUSE RESCUE
EarlierthisyearHOME,Inc.learnedabouta92yearoldwomanwhowasfacingan emotionally challenging transition with no remaining family left to help her. Evelyn’s home had become overwhelmed with belongings over the years due to circumstancesthathadmadeitdifficultforhertomanage.Theseconditionsalso madeithardtoliveinherhome,soEvelyndecidedtomoveintoassistedliving.
Thehousewasscheduledfordemolition,soinSeptember,HOME,Inc.gathereda group of volunteers to assist in rescuing Evelyn’s cherished family heirlooms, photographs, and valuables to bring emotional comfort back to her after facing loneliness and loss. Upon entering the property, it was evident that without the help of HOME, Inc. volunteers there would be no feasible way to recover this woman’s treasured belongings. With compassion and determination, our volunteers rolled up their sleeves, ready to make a difference and help Evelyn startanew
As the sorting process unfolded, emotions ran high. Each item uncovered revealed more of incredible life Evelyn has led. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, we not only recovered everything we set out to find, but also found treasures we never anticipated. Now, Evelyn can enter into a new chapter of life carryinghermemoriesandadventureswithher.
And the story doesn’t end there, HOME, Inc. will be buying the property from Evelyn, so she can have more funds in this new stage of life. HOME, Inc. will then bebuildinganewhometocreateanaffordablehousingopportunityforafamily whowouldnotbeabletobuyahouseotherwise.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
TRANSFORMING LIVES
TURNING TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH
AFTER A HOUSE FIRE
Morethanfouryearsago,Patricia'slife was turned upside down when her house caught fire. Underinsured and facing a devastating loss, she hired a contractor who, instead of helping, tookhermoney,guttedherhome,and disappeared. With her daughter and five grandchildren by her side, Patricia facedaseriesofdisplacements:first
livinginanapartmentuntilitflooded,thenrelyingonhersisteruntilshecould nolongeroffersupport,andfinallyfindingrefugeinashelter.InFebruary2024, theCityconnectedPatriciawithHOME,Inc.,justasherhousewasaddedtothe nuisancelistandwasslatedfordemolition.
Determined to change her fate, HOME, Inc. partnered with multiple organizations to secure funding for project, and then served as the General Contractor to rehabilitate the home at no charge. Through hard work and collaboration, HOME, Inc. moved Patricia's family into temporary housing and begantheprocessofrehabilitatingandrestoringherhome.
Fast forward to July 2024, HOME, Inc. finished building in record time, and against all odds, Patricia and her family moved into a beautifully renovated home,salvagedfromthebrinkofdemolition.Thehousehastransformedfrom
a3bedroom,1bathroomhouse into a spacious 5 bedroom, 2 bathroomhome.Furnishedwith essential appliances and donated furniture, the house now provides a safe stable home for Patricia, her daughter, and her grandchildren to grow andthrive.
TRANSFORMING LIVES
TURNING TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH AFTER A HOUSE FIRE
EXCITING NEWS
WELCOME KELSEY!
This quarter we were generously awarded a grantfromthePrincipalFoundationtohelpus further our mission and advance our work in affordable housing. Their support will enable ustomakeasignificantimpactinDesMoines!
Thanks to this funding we welcomed a new member to our team! Kelsey Leahy started with us this September as our new Property Development Coordinator! With her help on our Property Development team we have the capability to build more affordable homes in DesMoinesandhelpmorefamiliesobtainand maintainsafe,stablehousing!
I am originally from Wisconsin and I moved here for college in 2012. I was drawn to Des Moines because it was similar to my hometown but still offered plenty of new experiences. There were so many exciting opportunities to explore and the city was so lively and diverse that I decided to stay and put down roots. I spent over five years in the flooring industry, learning the ins and outs of tile installation and home remodeling. From there I jumped into new home construction andspenttwoyearshelpingbuildanddesign homes in the Des Moines suburbs. When I’m notworkingIspendmytimewithmyhusband and beagle, Artemis. I am excited about the great work that the Home, Inc. team does to makeadifferenceinthecommunity.
PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT
UpLift’s Community Conversations
We were honored to sit among many valued partners and discuss the challenges Central Iowa is facing when it comes to housing and how we can be a part of creating the solutions. If you didn’t have the chance to attend,youcanwatchthevideoonline: https://www.youtube.com/live/hWZq95 gpwN8
Iowa Total Care
IowaTotalCarehaspartneredwith Hy-Vee to show you three tips to remember when cooking healthy on a budget. Registered Dietitian Tori walks you through what these tips may look like with this Stuffed Zucchini recipe. To view more Dietitian services, visit https://www.hy-vee.com/healthnew/dietitians
Iowa Total Care Members can now use their My Health Pays Reward Card at Hy-Vee. To learn more, visit the Iowa Total Care homepage: https://www.iowatotalcare.com/members/me dicaid.html
HOME, Inc. Apparel Store!
Visitourapparelstore,featuringarange ofstylishanduniqueclothingitemssuch as t-shirts, hoodies, hats, polos, and more! By purchasing from our store, you are not only supporting HOME, Inc., but youwillalsobeabletosparkmeaningful conversations about our cause. Visit our store today and discover the latest arrivals.Thankyouforyoursupport!
