Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
In the 2006 ISUE Families Program of Work, poverty was identified as a universal problem in Iowa and was targeted as an area of work. To help reach that goal, Iowa State University Extension began a partnership with the Northwest Area Foundation and decided to work with identified communities in Iowa with populations between 500 and 5000 and a poverty level of 10% or more. Waukon met the criteria with 4131 residents and 12.4% poverty.

Response:
Poverty is a comprehensive and systemic problem that impacts many areas of living including: housing, career, health, childcare, education. In the 2006 program of work, poverty was identified as a priority for the ISUE Families Program of Work and ISUE began a partnership with the Northwest Area Foundation. Communities in Iowa with populations between 500 and 5000 and a poverty level of 10% or more were identified and invited to participate in the Horizons project. Waukon , IA qualified as a Horizon community and became one of the 25 Horizons communities and participated with the beginning stages of the Horizons project. According to the Northwest Area Foundation Horizons Community Guide, “Horizons is a community leadership program aimed at reducing poverty in small rural and reservation communities (population less than 5,000) faced with economic decline and demographic change. Our goals on poverty are for communities to identify it, commit collectively to do something about it and begin to take strategic action to change it.”

Impact:
Waukon developed many ideas to address poverty in their study circles that included: • A new Community Resource Directory and distribution plan • Habitat project: Identify homes of low-income families that would need repairs or painting • Contact area Habitat for Humanity chapters to investigate the creation of a local chapter. At the Community Action forum residents stepped forward to take leadership of the projects and many have had considerable success in their efforts: • A local Resource Directory has been created and printed with funding from the local CPPC committee (Community Partnerships to Protect Children). • A committee has been formed to bring the ROWEL Poverty Simulation to Waukon to create awareness of living in poverty. The simulation will take place on September 24, 2007. • Two homes of fixed income elderly women were identified and repaired and painted. Over $1000 in funding was raised for these repairs. This was the first project of this type and residents hope to identify more projects for next year. • The Allamakee County Community Foundation donated $1000 to revive the Allamakee Crisis Fund for emergency assistance for low-income families. The fund was managed through the local Community Action. Funding was used within several weeks. The foundation plans to contribute to the fund annually. • An application was submitted and approved to have a low-income tax assistance site (VITA) in Waukon in 2008. Volunteers are being recruited as preparers. • A committee has been formed to create a town celebration. Waukon has not had an annual celebration for a number of years. • A workshop called “Planning to Stay Ahead” has been scheduled for October to help residents with financial planning and budgeting. • Over 150 people have participated in Horizons discussions to date. Over 600 residents will be contacted to comment on the vision statements.

Contact:
Teresa Wiemerslage, CEED
Allamakee County Extension
21 Allamakee Street
Waukon, IA 52172
563-568-6345
wiemer@iastate.edu