If you came to the blog to learn more about mapping, this is the article for you! Two weeks ago--during the last week of March 2025--residents and partners who have been involved in housing initiatives in Church Row and Walnut Neighborhoods were trained in an upcoming mapping survey process. These mappers will utilize a digital […]
Holistic Neighborhood Revitalization
Holistic neighborhood revitalization focuses on Asset Based Development Outcomes in order to create the ultimate outcome of an improved quality of life for residents and the community as a whole.
Asset-based community development considers local strengths as the primary building blocks of sustainable, long-term community development. It's an innovative solution that reverses neighborhood, economic, and housing disparities that have followed decades of disinvestment and adversely impacted quality of life. Yet, neighborhoods can become stronger and more resilient through a neighborhood-driven plan when all pertinent parties are vested in and accountable to its success.
Iowa Heartland is focused on the following outcomes in our focus neighborhoods:
Housing
Promotion and protection of fair, decent, affordable, mixed-income residential development.
Historic Preservation
Building on the resident-identified asset of the neighborhood’s historic structures and stories.
Sense of Community
Unity and neighbor ties are strengthened within the neighborhood, increasing trust with each other.
Economic Opportunities
Job creation and financial resources.
Transportation
Safe, affordable, accessible to downtown and amenities.
Neighborhood Inspiration
Go to the people.
Live among them.
Learn from them.
Love them.
Start with what they know.
Build on what they have.
"But of the best leaders, when their task is done, the people will remark,
'We have done it ourselves.'"
- CCDA/Chinese Proverb
Our Neighborhood Revitalization Story
Link CCD formed by partnership with Orchard Hill Church and Harvest Vineyard Church, with support of Walnut Neighborhood Association.
Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity was invited to Listening Meetings with Walnut Neighborhood Association.
Walnut Neighborhood Housing Coalition formed and started acquiring land and critical home repairs.
John Deere Funding $2 million allocated to go towards housing projects in church Row and holistic neighborhood revitalization work. Consulting with Focused Community Strategies started and Iowa Heartland Habitat committed to the Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) Process.
Church Row Neighborhood Alliance formed.
FNI assessments and alignment accomplished in Church Row and Walnut. Learn More
FNI Action Teams met and goals completed. Action Teams celebrate and recognize their accomplishments.
Two Neighborhood Listening Sessions took place in each neighborhood to listen to residents' hopes, dreams, and concerns. In total 37 attendees participated in these listening sessions.
Four out of the five action teams were renewed to meet regularly to work towards their goals. The teams are excited to commit to further development in the neighborhoods and continue to see progress.
Another FNI assessment round will be launched in Church Row and Walnut.
Action Team commitment renewals and neighborhood engagement plans to be determined. Most teams are excited to commit to further development of their goals and continue to see progress.
The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) Process
The FCS Flourishing Neighborhood Index Assessment analyzes community wellbeing across multiple domains to measure overall neighborhood vitality and resident quality of life.
The FNI has three major phases: Assessment, Alignment, and Activation.
Assessment
The Assessment phase involved gathering comprehensive data about neighborhood conditions through surveys, interviews, and existing metrics to establish a baseline understanding of community strengths and needs.
Alignment
During the Alignment phase, stakeholders collaborated to identify shared priorities and develop coordinated strategies based on the assessment findings.
Activation
The Activation phase focused on implementing targeted initiatives and mobilizing resources to address key areas for improvement identified during the earlier phases.
The FNI process strikes a thoughtful balance by grounding decisions in rigorous data collection and metrics while ensuring that community voices, lived experiences, and personal stories remain central to understanding neighborhood wellbeing. The quantitative measurements (like employment rates, survey results, and current housing vacancies) are enriched by qualitative insights from resident interviews, community forums, and ongoing dialogue with neighborhood leaders - recognizing that numbers alone can't capture the full story of a community's challenges and aspirations.
The FNI wheel is a visual framework that represents the 12 key dimensions of neighborhood flourishing, arranged in a circular format. The dimensions are:
- Physical Environment
- Safety & Security
- Health & Social Services
- Education
- Local Commerce
- Household Income
- Employment
- Housing
- Civic Infrastructure
- Sense of Place
- Credible Leadership
- Neighborhood Connectivity
- Transportation & Access
Each dimension appears as a segment of the wheel, which you can see depicted below.
The results of this first assessment round were key to the launch of 6 Action Teams in July 2023, most of which will continue to meet until June 2025, when another Neighbor Survey is planned to help re-evaluate the progress being made in holistic neighborhood revitalization.
Focus Neighborhood
Church Row
Iowa Heartland Habitat has been building in Church Row Neighborhood since 2004. Construction picked up in Church Row when a small handful of homes were completed near Allen Street and W 3rd between 2016 and 2020. In FY25 Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity has a goal of completing seven construction projects in the Church Row Neighborhood.
Focus Neighborhood
Walnut
Iowa Heartland Habitat has been building in this neighborhood since 2017. With the help of volunteers, we have worked on rehab projects and new construction, as well as owner-occupied critical home repairs.
StoRIES of Impact
Raquel
"I'm looking forward to walking into a home that I never thought I would have."
Story of Hope in the Church Row Neighborhood.
