Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation

Decorah, Iowa - Monica Roderick, Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation transit system administrator, and Daniel Michels, NEICAC housing property manager, have both attained the "certified community action professional" national designation known as CCAP. The path to this certificaiton includes Read more...

Building a new home is the American Dream for families and individuals. That dream, which is out of reach for many, may now become more accessible in Oelwein under NEICAC#8217;s Neighborhood Stabilization Program - New Construction Program. Read more ...

In celebrating Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, numerous community and professional volunteers accepted the invitation and the response was. I can! I can! I’d like to read! NEICAC Governing Board member Ron Garceau, Senator Bill Dix, Fayette County Supervisor Vicki Rowland, Oelwein Police Officer Chet Reagan, Oelwein Kindergarten Teacher Tara Sperslage, NEICAC Family Service Specialist Peggy Sherrets, and Faye Stewart. The pictures below tell the story! Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Ron Garceau said that it had been a very long time since he had done anything like this, but offered to make a return visit in the future.

Representatives of Iowa Community Action met with Senator Tom Harkin in Washington to discuss
the President’s 2012 budget proposals regarding the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).

Every year in January, FaDSS grantees across the state bring families to the Capitol to meet Legislators to talk about the importance of FaDSS. Legislators get to hear first hand from families how much impact FaDSS has had on them and their family. This year our topic was "FaDSS is Worth the Investment".

Our message focused on the economic successes of families and we showed Legislators how this has been happening. We highlighted the successes that FaDSS families achieved to make sure that everyone realized that FaDSS is worth the investment! We focused on how FaDSS helped families:

Community Action Partnership "the promise" Magazine- A record number of Community Action leaders were formally enrolled as Certified Community Action Professionals at the Community Actions Partnership’s 2010 Annual Convention in Boston. Read more ...

Decorah, Iowa - After successfully completing a rigorous evaluation process of their Community Action knowledge, skills, and abilities, Mark Kvammen and Trisha Wilkins have joined the ranks of more than 350 Community Action managers and leaders across the country who are Certified Community Action Professionals. The Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) designation recognizes Kvammen and Wilkins as part of a distinguished group of individuals who have refined and strengthened their skills and abilities to help low-income people and families achieve economic stability. Kvammen and Wilkins were recognized for their achievement at the National Community Action Partnership conference in Boston on September 2nd. Read more...

The Magazine of the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) Rural Voices featured the article "Going For Green". Rural Voices contacted me about writing to HAC depicting NEICAC’s affordable green features that make up our Phase III rent to own program and our exceptional "green homes". HAC wanted me to concentrate on the home features that create a higher standard of Indoor Air Quality for affordable housing.

As the construction of this Phase III round of our rent to own homes program was nearing completion I gathered together all 35 plus features that make this home exceptional. Of these 35 special features, about 10 were specifically addressed to create healthy indoor air quality. Indoor air quality means things added to the home that; decrease moisture, improve ventilation, remove or abate toxic materials, improved ventilation, and or address structural defects to improve indoor air quality. These measures help to create healthy living environments for our future homeowners participating in our Rent to Own Housing program.

Please read this article pages 19 - 21 to further your knowledge concerning indoor air quality and what you can do to your home regarding improved indoor air quality. This article was a result of NEICAC Housing’s application to HAC’s Green Fund Capacity Building Grant Program. This program awarded NEICAC their maximum amount of $15,000 in 2009 to assist NEICAC Housing in the construction of 3 rent to own homes that meet the rigid requirements for green design and construction including indoor air quality. Indoor air quality is one of seven elements that make up green housing construction. IDED’s green criteria mandates that all subsidized housing in Iowa meet these requirements in all construction in 2009 and beyond.

Mary Ann Humpal, executive director of Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation based in Decorah, has received the highest honor presented by the Iowa Community Action Association (ICAA).

July 15, 2009, the ICAA presented Humpal with the Robert F. Tyson Memorial award.

The award is given annually to an individual who not only carries the message of community action throughout the state but champions the many programs operated under the umbrellas of the 18 community action agencies in the state.

Robert Tyson started his service in community action in 1969 as director of the Office of Planning and Programming under Gov. Robert D. Ray and continued to serve in various positions in state government, always as an advocate and a friend of community action and the low-income families of Iowa until his death in June 1985.

The ICAA Board of Directors selected Humpal based on her "unending and relentless support of the entire community action network and the families we serve". The awards ceremony had emotional moments as many of her own staff and other agency directors reflected on the difference she has made not only to the community action network but also in their own individual successes.

Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund was recently certified as an official entity by the State of Iowa on 11⁄12⁄09. Funding was secured for these counties: Allamakee, Clayton, Howard and Winneshiek and is to be used for the rehabilitation and renovation of single-family and multi-family owner occupied and rental dwellings occupied by low-moderate incomme residents of these four counties. For more information, follow the link to Upper Exploreland Regional Planning Commission

Congratulations to our Transit Program for recently receiving an Award of Achievement from the Federal Transit Administration.More information

NEICAC is offering Homebuyer Education Classes for anyone interested in learning more about homeownership. All workshops are held at the NEICAC office at 305 Montgomery St., Decorah, IA. You must pre-register and get pre-screened for the class by calling Daniel at 563-382-8436 Ext. 109. More information

NEICAC Housing program is currently taking applications for the Homeowners program. To apply, go to your nearest NEICAC Family Service Office. Requirements are a stable rental and employment history, having children under the age of 18, a willingness to work with this agency towards home ownership, and an income at or below 60% of the local county's average median income (AMI), which for a family of four in most of our seven service county area is $32,160.

The Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation Board of Directors meeting is held every 4th Monday of the month
at the Fayette County Court House in West Union, Iowa beginning at 6:30 PM.