"Before" picture of 806 310th Street. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity

Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity is working on one major housing project in Greene County.

Associate Director Jeff Lamoureux says they are doing a Helping Hands project for rural Bagley homeowner Angie Blasnitz at 806 310th Street in Greene County. Lamoureux says volunteers will help repair siding, install new windows and paint the entire exterior of the home. Plus, he explains, they are working with the United States Department of Agriculture on a Rural Development Grant to do other repairs such as hiring subcontractors to install a new air-conditioning unit and repair electrical issues.

“Sometimes we act as the contractor where if they qualify, we’ll do the work-this is what’s happening at Angie’s house on part of it-and that’ll be part of the USDA grant that she will receive. It works out well where we’re helping out homeowners and using other organizations that can help with some repairs.”

Lamoureux adds that they’ve used other USDA grants and low-interest loans to install handicapped accessible ramps and restrooms with the goal of keeping individuals or families in their homes for a longer period of time. For more information on how individuals can have Habitat help them utilize the USDA programs, contact Lamoureux by phone at 515-386-3093 or email him at ad@heartofiowahabitat.org.