HomeWorks Newsletter

Need/Problem:
First time homebuyers, especially those living in low income households, are often at a disadvantage when maintaining their homes. Guidelines such as when to replace a furnace filter, or why it is important to clean out gutters often are not part of a low income, first time homeowner’s history. This lack of knowledge can often cause financial problems when the furnace has problems because of a clogged filter, or there is an ice dam built up because of leaves in the gutters.

Response:
Iowa State University Extension, in cooperation with first time homebuyer’s programs sponsored by the City of Waterloo, Heartland Habitat for Humanity, and Operation Threshold, contracted with the University of Wisconsin Extension to provide the HomeWorks quarterly newsletter for first time homeowners, partially through two grants from Opportunity Works.

Impact:
The HomeWorks newsletter was sent out each quarter to 609 low income, first time homeowners who had completed a first time homebuyers program. This was a total of 2,436 households who received four issues over the course of the year. Another 91 issues were distributed quarterly to participants in the CASH course and to agency and organization staff in the Waterloo area. The total cost (publication at Wartburg College and postage through a non-profit bulk mailing by Operation Threshold) was $1,526.21, only 63 cents per eight (8) page newsletter.

Contact:
Patricia K. Gorman
Field Specialist/Resource Management
Grundy County Extension
703 F Street Suite 1
Grundy Center, IA 50638
Phone 319-824-6979; Fax 319-824-6601
Email pgorman@iastate.edu

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