Greetings from the Dir. of Recovery! I have EXCITING NEWS! I've been waiting to send my email when I could tell everyone "officially" about the program that includes buying houses in Cedar Rapids.
The United Methodist Conference, the Affordable Housing Network (AHNI), and Matthew 25 Hub, have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a partnership called "Block by Block". The funding for this project comes from private dollars; donors who would like to see housing recovery progress for flood affected homeowners and neighborhoods. We received a one million dollar donation from John and Dyan Smith and $700,000 from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. The Iowa Conference has so far committed $200,000 and an army of volunteers to the project.
The Block by Block Program is a new neighborhood rehabilitation effort in the city of
Cedar Rapids. The goal of the program is to bring back to life neighborhoods impacted by 2008’s unprecedented flooding, one complete block at a time.
All along this process I have been referring to the fact that we are going to start buying houses, rebuilding them and selling them to low income families. But Block by Block is more than just buying houses. The goal of Block by Block is to build upon the tremendous work already done by blocks, providing resources to make each property on the block fully habitable. Private contributions and customized solutions will provide flexibility to finish what others have started. So, we may be providing funding gaps and volunteers and rebuilding with homeowners (which we’ve already been doing for the past year), buying homes-rebuilding them and reselling, helping with the buyout process; whatever it takes to make the neighborhood whole again, block by block.
Yesterday a press conference was held at the location of the first block chosen for the program. It was simply a great day for everyone involved! What a blessing that we have been given the privilege of being part of this partnership! To see more about the press conference, Darci Hartman has posted more information on the Conference website. Click here to see the article. Click here to view photos.
This also means we need VOLUNTEERS!!! YEAH! Get your teams lined up and come to
Cedar Rapids to be a part of the Block by Block excitement!
We have big news in Oakville too! As mentioned in a previous email, Oakville is going to start rebuilding houses. The Iowa Annual Conference Steering Committee has voted to give $50,000 to that project! And again they need VOLUNTEERS!!
I received an email from Jaymee Glen-Burns yesterday. Some of the farmers in Fayette County have extensive crop damage from hail and high winds. Please keep the people of Fayette County in your prayers.
Notes from Pastor Melisa:
We delight in the temperatures of this season. The uncommon coolness greatly assists with flood recovery. However the rain, oh the rain, it needs to stop.
Good News: Intern Shelby Cowell was approved today to be an official AmeriCor Vista volunteer for the
Flood Recovery Office of the UMC. This funding begins in September and will last until September 18, 2010. Praise be to God!
How many town are our teams in today? 7
With how many people? 220
Working with 35 families.
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That’s all for now!
