Keokuk Housing group begins Implementation of Rural Housing Readiness Assessment

The Keokuk Housing Steering Committee completed the Rural Housing Readiness Assessment (RHRA) process in late spring. The RHRA is a program with Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, housed within the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The grant application was supported with a cash match by the Keokuk Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) and organized in cooperation with the City and Chamber of Commerce.

Due to Covid-19 this process was hosted over 3 virtual meetings. There are over a dozen representatives on the Keokuk Housing Steering Committee including; Realtors, City staff, Keokuk Housing Authority staff, KEDC and Chamber directors and volunteer community members. The steering committee is tasked with developing and implementing the action plan that includes a vision for; increased new housing stock, rehabilitated housing, improved residential rental properties, increased financial incentives and improved quality of life.

The plan resulted in 4 working groups; Housing Stabilization, Funding and Incentives, Community Engagement and Targeted Projects. As part of the program, KEDC received $10,000 to help begin implementation of the Action Plan. Funds were used to support targeted projects led by the Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative including the setting of two workforce houses on infill lots, the first to be delivered on July 28.

A portion of the funds were dedicated to support the housing intern, Sahara Shrestha, a recent graduate from Iowa State University with Masters in Community Regional Planning and Urban Design. “Over my summer internship I studied Iowa code and local ordinances to first formulate a decision tree on managing nuisance property issues, then I developed a vacant property and residential rental registry system and inspection program that can be proposed for adoption by the city. My favorite project was preparing a conceptual design proposal for a pocket neighborhood to increase new housing stock,” said Sahara Shrestha.

“This planning process and resulting plan has provided us a path to lay a solid foundation to stabilize neighborhoods, address nuisance property issues and catalyze reinvestment in housing and buildings in Keokuk,” says Shelley Oltmans, Executive Director of the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce.

To learn more about  housing in Keokuk or become involved, please contact the Chamber at 319-524-5055 or [email protected].