Shutdown Delays Habitat for Humanity Construction

Press release from Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity has been affected by the federal government shutdown.  An Americorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) crew of 8 people that was scheduled to work on the construction site for the next two weeks has been cancelled.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18-24. Drawn from the successful models of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and the U.S. military, AmeriCorps NCCC is built on the belief that civic responsibility is an inherent duty of all citizens and that national service programs work effectively with local communities to address pressing needs. 

“We work very hard to line up construction crews in advance” Says Amanda Herold-Mahncke, Program Director.  “Losing a group for 10 days of work – at the last minute - has thrown construction off schedule”.  Mahnke says she requested the crew in August and submitted a project application.  “Like any general contractor, we have to plan our work several months ahead, and we are very busy.”

Habitat for Humanity is actively building 4 homes, but now one of those houses will have to sit idle.  Two other houses are scheduled to close at the end of October, and other volunteer crews have been scheduled to help finish those houses. 

Habitat Construction Manager Steve King is quickly working on a new game plan. “We basically lost full time work, this will set us back 3 weeks. The worst of it is winter is coming and we need to enclose the house – it’s a chain reaction, we can’t schedule the subcontractors and their schedule fills up and then there is another delay.”

NCCC crews will also miss out on an opportunity to learn construction skills and fulfill their duty of national service.  Habitat for Humanity utilizes crew like NCCC and other groups, because 90% of Habitat homes are build built by volunteers.

Mahncke has put out an “all-call” to other volunteer groups that have worked on Habitat homes in the past. “We have so much community support, so many churches, businesses and individuals that come out to help build.  It’s just hard to find last minute volunteers”.

To learn more About Americorps NCCC, visit AmeriCorp.gov/nccc

About Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1990 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and is a nonprofit organization seeking to eliminate poverty housing, build stronger families and improve neighborhoods.  IHHFH currently builds in three Iowa counties – Black Hawk, Bremer and Butler.

Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build homes with families in need of better housing.  Locally, Iowa Heartland Habitat completes 10-12 homes annually.  Houses are built with volunteer labor, homeowner Sweat Equity hours and tax-deductible donations of money and materials. 

The Habitat houses are then sold to Habitat families with affordable ZERO interest mortgages. These mortgage proceeds are then used by the Habitat affiliate to build more affordable homes with more qualified families. Visit www.heartlandhfh.org. 

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity celebrated the completion of its 100th home in August, 2011; while Habitat affiliates of Iowa will celebrate the completion of 1000 homes state wide on October 1st.