2023 Annual Report available now!
Learn about our operations, impact, and use of funds in 2023.
FAMILIES SERVED
Founded in 1988, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity has served over 330 families locally through new construction, home rehabilitation and critical repairs.
VOLUNTEER HOURS
- Volunteer hours in fiscal year 2020: 11,445
- Individual volunteers in FY20: 1,945
- Local Families served since 2008 flood: 204
1988
Created first affordable housing opportunity.
2005
Habitat for Humanity ReStore opens its doors!
Flood of 2008
Flood of 2008 impacts large majority of population in the Cedar Rapids area and surrounding communities, impacting more than 1,300 blocks of homes and businesses.
2009
Home Team Huddle fundraiser launches, proving to be incredibly successful. ROOTS program initiated in the greater Cedar Rapids area, CVHFH becomes partner. NFL quarterback Kurt Warner and his wife, Brenda, join more than 500 Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps members and alumni for the AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon to help build 20 Habitat for Humanity Homes.
2010
A Brush with Kindness (ABWK) begins!
CVHFH hosts second consecutive AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon!
2011
Resurgence of Women Build program.
100th home built and rehabilitated by Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity.
CVHFH members join Jimmy & Roysalynn Carter in Haiti to help rebuild after major earthquake.
2012
Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity participates in Home Builders Blitz for the first time. Two homes were built in just 5 days!
2013
CVHFH receives program grant from Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation to support the ABWK efforts in Wellington Heights.
CVHFH serves 250th family!
2014 - 2016
In support of CVHFH’s ABWK program, Thrivent Builds Repairs program sponsors ABWK Blitz Weeks. 15 families were served through the three Blitz Weeks in 2014. 3 homes were completed in 5 days in 2015. And 3 homes were completed in 5 days in 2016.
2016
In partnership with Hughes Nursery, CVHFH moved an entire house, providing another family an opportunity for home ownership and green space for a new city park!
2019-2020
CVHFH enters Fairfax, Iowa for the first time, building four homes side-by-side.
2020
Despite COVID-19 and the August 2020 derecho putting the Home Builders Blitz on hold, CVHFH safely continues build efforts in the Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood of Cedar Rapids.
2021
CVHFH completed:
- 5 new homes
- 1 home rehabilitation
- 21 derecho repairs
- 4 aging in place projects
Home Ownership
- Every homebuyer is prepared through a combination of sweat equity, one-on-one financial coaching and home ownership training classes.
- Most homebuyers have an affordable 30-year interest-free mortgage. Mortgages are calculated so a family is not spending more than 30 percent of their monthly income on their housing at the time of their closing.
- 260 families have purchased CVHFH homes since 1988.
Advocate, Educate, and Engage
- CVHFH is constantly working with a broad range of community partners to eliminate poverty housing and educate the public on affordable housing issues.
- CVHFH tithes 10% of all unrestricted donations to build Habitat homes abroad. Our current tithe partners are Nicaragua, Haiti, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Guatemala.
- Over 2,500 people volunteer with CVHFH annually.
ReStore
- ReStores are home improvement outlets that sell donated construction material at discounted prices to fund CVHFH’s mission.
- Annually, ReStore keeps 545 tons of materials out of local landfills.
Need
- In U.S., 95 million people with housing problems: high-cost burden, overcrowding, inadequate housing and homelessness.
- Getting families into an affordable, stable home leads to better education outcomes, fewer dropouts, healthier kids, increased job prospects, more community engagement and safer neighborhoods.