Building stability through homeownership: Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity

When the Walnut Neighborhood Association reached out to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity in 2016, the historic Waterloo neighborhood was struggling. Many homes were in disrepair, and vacant lots dotted the landscape where houses once stood. But the remaining residents believed Walnut could thrive again—and Iowa Heartland shared that vision.

That vision is becoming reality because of dedicated partners and community members. Among them, the Dupaco Foundation proudly supported Iowa Heartland’s mission with a $10,000 Nonprofit Grant in 2025.

A targeted approach to revitalization

Iowa Heartland has embraced targeted neighborhood revitalization as its preferred approach to community development. Their focus? Reinvesting in Waterloo’s core neighborhoods—including Walnut—to reverse housing disparities and strengthen economic opportunity.

“It’s about communal good as well as family good,” said Dusty Wilson, Iowa Heartland’s development director. “We’re building neighborhoods while changing the trajectory for families.”

And the results in the Walnut neighborhood speak for themselves:

• Iowa Heartland has built, rehabilitated or repaired 40% of the total neighborhood’s 100 unique properties.
• Homeownership has jumped from around 20% to 50%, with a goal of reaching 66%.

Additionally, Iowa Heartland is revitalizing the much larger Church Row neighborhood with plans to expand efforts into a third neighborhood and build 16 houses annually by 2027.

The mission behind the movement

For 35 years, Iowa Heartland has worked to address the critical need for affordable housing. Their programs help families achieve the safety, stability and wealth-building potential that homeownership provides.

Here’s how they do it:

• Affordable Homeownership: Supports first-time buyers who don’t qualify for a traditional mortgage.
• Critical Home Repairs: Helps existing homeowners stay in their homes by addressing urgent repairs.
• Blueprints Program: Offers 18–24 months of financial coaching to prepare families for conventional homeownership.

These programs create homeownership pathways for individuals and families to thrive.

Two of these families stand out:

Teisha, a single mom and small business owner, regularly visits her future home on Almond Street – sometimes to pitch in, sometimes just to bring donuts to volunteers. For her, homeownership means stability for her child and a place to grow her dreams. She’s excited to soon call herself a homeowner.

Then there’s Antonio, who worked on-site nearly every day during the construction of his home, learning the skills of the trade so he could later finish a basement bedroom for his son, creating space for his family’s future.

These are the real people who represent Iowa Heartland’s efforts to empower families to build better futures.

Why Dupaco Foundation supports housing

Affordable housing is more than a roof over someone’s head—it’s the foundation for financial security and generational opportunity. Yet many households remain cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing or are unable to attain homeownership at all.

Our goal at Dupaco Foundation is to help change that. By supporting safe, affordable housing, we create stability for families and create pathways to homeownership.

Homeownership matters because it builds equity and provides a sense of permanence and security. It allows families to invest in their future, accumulate wealth and pass that stability on to the next generation.

But the benefits extend beyond individual households. Strong homeownership rates help revitalize neighborhoods, attract private investment and strengthen local economies. Communities with stable housing enjoy lower crime rates, better educational outcomes for children and increased civic engagement. When families put down roots, they contribute to vibrant, connected neighborhoods where people look out for one another and take pride in where they live. 

A thriving neighborhood

Today, Walnut is a mixed-income neighborhood where residents host potlucks, organize clean-up days and plant marigolds to beautify their streets. A new park is in the works. It’s more than a neighborhood—it’s a community reborn. And it all started with a shared vision: that Walnut could, once again, be a place to call home.

Learn more about the ways Dupaco Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in our communities >