HACAP receives regional renovation funds

WASHINGTON — The East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund has approved an award of nearly $97,500 for a HACAP project that will bring needed repairs to the Old Main housing facility and bring another housing unit onto the market. The city of Washington has agreed to provide matching funds for the project, estimated to total around $157,428.

"It's been heartwarming to bring HACAP, ECIHTF, WEDG and the city of Washington together to work on this project and create a funding resource,” WEDG Executive Director Mary Audia said. “This was born out of our monthly Housing Initiative Group meetings facilitated by WEDG, connecting HACAP to ECIHTF and the City of Washington around this project."

Audia said housing solutions had been at the top of her to-do list since she started as executive director of WEDG.

“Housing is a basic human need, and one of the top initiatives in the WEDG Strategic Plan,” she said. “Adequate housing can also facilitate labor mobility and a well-functioning housing sector is critical to the overall health of the economy.”

During a recent WEDG Housing Initiative meeting, a request for assistance was made by HACAP Operations Manager RenElla Crawford, who oversees housing units in the Old Main with many needed upgrades and renovations of apartments.

One unit was under construction but was not completed due to cost challenges.

“We understand the importance of the service we provide to Washington and are committed to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment for all who are a participant of the housing program,” Crawford said. “We could not provide this housing service without the support of so many in Washington County. A special thank you to the City of Washington, WEDG, ECIHTF and the Housing Initiative Committee for their support and work to make this funding possible. Also, I want to thank the Washington County Board of Supervisors for their continued support of HACAP. Without their support we would not be able to provide this important housing service in Washington County.”

The project is slated to start in the next few months with a completion date sometime in 2023.