Our Mission

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

Our Vision

A world where everyone has a decent place to live.

About Iowa Heartland

Since 1990, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity has operated in Black Hawk, Butler, Bremer, and Buchanan counties, building homes for homebuyers and completing critical home repairs in owner-occupied homes. We are dedicated to eliminating substandard housing through construction, rehabilitation, and preserving homes; by advocating for fair housing policies; and by providing access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.

Historically, IHHFH’s two primary programs – affordable homeownership and critical home repairs –have served individuals that demonstrate a need (earning below 80% of the area’s median income), an ability to pay for their home/repair, and a willingness to partner with IHHFH (completing 300 hours of sweat equity and homebuyer education courses).

Looking to the future, we – like other Habitat affiliates – have evolved to recognize a need for asset based, full neighborhood revitalization, in hopes of improving the quality of life for families in local neighborhoods. While IHHFH will always be committed to our core strengths in building, rehabbing and repairing housing to facilitate pride in ownership on a household scale, we recognize the need for partners and a coordinated strategy with residents, organizations, local officials, and businesses to restore stability on a neighborhood scale.

We believe that with a little help, everyone has the potential to stand on their own.

The Need

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines an "affordable dwelling" as one that a household can obtain for 30 percent or less of its income.

In the counties we serve, tens of thousands of families spend more than 30% of their total family income on housing.

We have more than 300 people waiting to apply to our Homeownership Program and receive multiple calls a day from homeowners in need of repairs.

How Does it Work?

Applicants must demonstrate need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner in order to qualify for our Homeownership Program. Need can be demonstrated through unsafe/unhealthy living conditions, paying more than 30% of their income on housing, etc. Homebuyers must be within 30%-80% of median family income in order to qualify for our Program. They must also be willing to complete 300 hours of sweat equity through building homes, working in the ReStore, and attending homebuyer education courses.

Learn More!

Iowa Heartland has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to volunteer, support our mission and apply for assistance regardless of their race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people.

As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.