A milestone for the Homes for Iowa program will be taking place in Jefferson next week. The general public is being invited to attend a Zoom virtual open house commemorating the completion of the first home delivered for placement that was constructed by Iowa Prison Industries. Region XII Council of Governments is hosting the open house at noon Wednesday, Aug. 12. Executive Director, Rick Hunsaker, says there will be several speakers who had a role in bringing this first home of two that have been placed in Jefferson.
Video footage and aerial shots of the home are featured online. Hunsaker says they will be utilizing additional filming done for the Homes for Iowa program.
Hunsaker believes the structures built by prisoners in Newton are likely going to be critical pieces of the puzzle in regional and state housing shortages.
The homes are $75,000 delivered and set on the foundation. Once placed, other costs are locally determined. For this Jefferson home, they chose to put in a full basement and more.
This house, at 606 N. Cedar St., and another Iowa Prison Industries’ home next door, at 404 Clark St., are both for sale, but the Clark Street structure is not yet totally finished. Hunsaker says they haven’t done a hard sell yet, but eligible families, with an income of $100,000 or less, that are interested in getting more information can contact Region XII through the details included below. There are also down payment assistance programs available through Region XII and the City of Jefferson. Hunsaker says they were able to keep these homes priced under $200,000 with the help of the City of Jefferson and their donation of the lots as well as the cost of some razing to prepare the site for construction. A link to the photos, video and to RSVP can also be found here.
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Region XII Council of Governments for more information:
Phone: 712-792-9914
Email: rhunsaker@region12cog.org
Link to view photos and video and to RSVP for Aug. 12 Virtual Open House: https://web.cvent.com/event/c58564cb-afa3-4192-a21d-ed53c75eeb84/summary
