Housing

Housing

NEICAC operates four Affordable Housing complexes. The NEICAC Calmar Apartments is a 12-unit multi-family complex. In Decorah we have a 16-unit senior apartment complex, named Washington Court. Our next project was the Woolen Mill Apartments.
This is a 15 unit, multi-family project that is a renovated historical building in downtown Decorah. The most recent addidtion to our Housing Portfolio, the Ridgewood Duplex, is a four unit duplex that is completely handicapped accessible, and has on-site 24 hour/7 day a week support service.

All the projects were completed with a collaboration of partners varying from the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED), Iowa Finance Authority (IFA), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Hawkeye REC, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors, City of Decorah, Decorah Bank and Trust, Bank of the West, and Habitat for Humanity. Each property maintains full occupancy with waiting lists.

NEICAC has completed our 5th, 6th, and 7th projects termed the Rent to Own Program, and we have begun construction of our 8th project which is called Phase IV of this Rent to Own Homes Program. Our 5th, 6th, and 7th projects - Phases I, II, and III of the Rent to Own Homes Program built 12 affordable homes in these NE Iowa Communities: Cresco (6), West Union (2), Postville, Lawler, Tripoli, and Volga. Of these first 12 homes, 7 have been sold and 4 more are currently being rented to own to income qualifying families. The only home we currently have available for renting to own is the Volga home.

All of these program’s homes have 3 bedrooms and are rented for 1-3 years by a first-time homebuyer who meets the program’s income guidelines. Then after completing the required Homebuyer Education Classes, the renter family can purchase the home for about half the cost of construction. Phase IV is now under construction building 5 more such homes: 3 in Oelwein, 1 each in Garnavillo and Tripoli. These homes will be completed by June 30th and most will be ready for occupancy by July 1, 2011.

Section 8 Rental Assistance is HUD's federally funded program to provide rental assistance to low-income families to secure decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing in a non-discriminatory manner from the private rental market. Click here for more information.

Homeless Assistance is provided through the Emergency Shelter Operating Grant and the Community Services Block Grant. This program provides cash assistance for rent, deposits and utilities. Contact your local Family Service Office for information and application.

Future Development
NEICAC Housing is currently developing housing resources in all seven counties we serve. Our newest endeavor involved creating housing advisory committees in each county. These committee findings will be used to determine what is missing as part of each county's affordable housing scenario. NEICAC's Board of Directors will then evaluate these findings to guide the Housing program towards its next project. This has led to Phase II of the Rent To Own program now under construction, including four homes, two in Cresco, one in Lawler, and one in West Union. These homes are on schedule to be completed in May of 2009 and ready for occupancy on June 1, 2009. Rent will be $450 plus utilities for these three bedroom homes.

Related Links:

Iowa Finance Authority
USDA Rural Development
Iowa Department of Economic Development
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines