Housing

Some residents of manufactured homes in Johnson County are asking for a two-year moratorium on rent increases in response to steep rent hikes and worsening living conditions at multiple locations owned by an out-of-state investor. They say changes began to take place after the lots were purchased by Havenpark Communities.

Places like Iowa seemed safe from the high insurance premiums of the coasts, but extreme weather like the 2020 Derecho has made insurers raise premiums, restrict coverage or even leave the state.

A Des Moines nonprofit is trying for a second time to win approval to build a tiny home village to provide permanent affordable housing for people who are homeless.

Progress is slow and steady after an EF3 twister struck Minden on April 26, 2024. Even with some concerns about insurance payouts, the mayor is optimistic about the future.

Six months after floods in northwest Iowa destroyed hundreds of homes, life remains unsettled for many residents of Rock Valley. Some seek normalcy as city leaders quickly work to keep people from moving away for good.

Last week the Des Moines City Council approved ordinances aimed at preventing those who are homeless from camping or sleeping on public property.

Under the new bans, people who do not leave or remove their campsites can be arrested, charged with a simple misdemeanor and fined $15.

The council approved a ban on camping and sleeping on public property that targets people who are unhoused. Opponents of the plan at the crowded meeting booed the decision.

Residents and staff say they were saddened by the news that the Warming Shelter in Sioux City was planning to cease operations. They wonder what will happen next.

The federal government says new safety standards and building materials mean home buyers priced out of site-built houses have viable options. As storms become stronger and more frequent, experts are tempering expectations.