2026 HousingIowa Awards Honor Iowa Leaders and Projects Expanding Housing Opportunities
Six recipients recognized for transforming properties, creating new homes and changing how Iowa communities address housing needs
DES MOINES — The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) recently honored six exceptional housing projects, organizations and leaders through the annual HousingIowa Awards, presented at the 2026 HousingIowa Conference in Des Moines. From revitalizing a long-vacant Veterans Affairs campus to ensuring people who have experienced homelessness help shape housing decisions, this year’s recipients are advancing creative, community-driven solutions to Iowa’s housing needs.
The awards recognize programs, projects and professionals advancing creative solutions and expanding housing opportunities for Iowans. During the ceremony, the impact of their work was brought to life through personal stories shared by the Iowans and communities whose lives have been shaped by these efforts.
“These award winners exemplify what is possible when strong partnerships, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to action come together,” said Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Their work is delivering real results for Iowans and moving us closer to our shared goal of meeting housing needs in every corner of our state.
Debi Durham
HousingIowa Awards are presented in six categories: Single-Family Development, Multifamily Development, Innovation, Special Needs Development, the Mark Sertterh Friend of Housing Award and the Kay Anderson Friend of Iowa Award. Nominations are accepted from across the state, and recipients are selected by a panel of judges.
2026 HousingIowa Award Winners
Single-Family Development
Veterans District, Knoxville
City of Knoxville, Marion County and Origin Homes
The Veterans District transformed more than 150 acres of a long-vacant former Veterans Affairs campus into a growing residential neighborhood designed to address Knoxville’s rural housing needs. The City of Knoxville and Marion County invested more than $17 million to acquire and prepare the site, installing infrastructure and creating parks, trails and other community amenities.
All 34 Phase I lots have been sold and built, advancing a projected five- to 10-year buildout in just three years. Origin Homes helped accelerate that progress by committing to build 20 homes over four years through its Rural Housing Initiative. The development is expanding attainable homeownership, supporting workforce recruitment and providing a model for rural housing growth.
Multifamily Development
The View on Hickman, Urbandale
Calia Capital and the City of Urbandale
The View on Hickman transformed Motel Relax, a long-vacant 64-room motel built in 1963, into a 62-unit apartment community, including 18 income-restricted homes for households earning at or below 60% of the area median income.
The redevelopment paired private financing with targeted investment from the City of Urbandale to create safe, high-quality housing, strengthen the Hickman Avenue corridor and increase the property’s assessed value by 45%. Its innovative motel-to-housing conversion and long-term affordability requirements offer a replicable model for revitalizing aging properties throughout Iowa.
Innovation Award
Delaware Apartments, Mason City
DEV Partners and the City of Mason City
Delaware Apartments transformed a portion of a former city parking lot into 36 downtown homes, including seven affordable apartments, while preserving safe and convenient parking within the development.
The partnership between DEV Partners and the City of Mason City put previously non-taxable property to productive use and addressed two important downtown needs within one footprint. The project demonstrates how thoughtful design can unlock new housing opportunities in places often overlooked for development.
Special Needs Award
Lived Experience Advisory Council, Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids’ seven-member Lived Experience Advisory Council brings people with firsthand experience of homelessness directly into housing-system decisions. Members review policies, advise programs, identify barriers to housing and participate in outreach and encampment engagement.
By placing lived experience at the center of its work, Cedar Rapids is developing more informed and responsive solutions. Broader system improvements have contributed to a reported 48% reduction in unsheltered homelessness and a 35% reduction in overall literal homelessness.
Mark Sertterh Friend of Housing Award
New Visions Homeless Services Team, Council Bluffs
The New Visions Homeless Services team meets people where they are through low-barrier shelter, street outreach, mobile food and shower services, and employment opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness.
By removing barriers and building trust, the team connects people with essential resources and practical pathways toward stability. Its compassionate, person-centered approach reflects the persistence and dignity at the heart of Iowa’s housing work.
Kay Anderson Friend of Iowa Award
Charla Schafer, President, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine
Charla Schafer has made housing availability and affordability a priority for Muscatine and rural communities across Iowa. As President of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, she brings public, private and community partners together to develop solutions tailored to the needs of rural families.
Her leadership has helped advance new construction approaches and attainable homeownership initiatives, demonstrating how committed local leadership can turn ambitious ideas into lasting opportunities for Iowans.
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