Community Housing Initiatives, Inc.

Media Contact: Brittany Spieker

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.chihousing.com/

Headline: Adel Manor Community Center Ribbon Cutting Brings Together Leaders and Residents

ADEL 6/13/2025

On Friday afternoon Community Housing Initiatives, Inc. (CHI) hosted a ribbon cutting for the Adel Manor Community Center. The event featured remarks from CHI CEO Sam Erickson, State Senator Trone Garriott, State Representative David Young, and NeighborWorks America representative Andre Butler. Attendees included Adel Manor residents, Mayor Pro Tem Shirley McAdon, a representative from Sen. Joni Ernst’s office, and private partners from across the state.

Adel Manor is a 62+ subsidized affordable housing community located in a quiet neighborhood in Adel, Iowa. This 68-unit property operates under the USDA Rural Rental Housing Program and offers independent living with features such as new in-unit laundry, new appliances, and income-based rent. Since acquiring the property in 2023, Community Housing Initiatives (CHI) has made significant improvements, including the installation of new windows, window coverings, doors, a secured entry call system, and added storage.

Funding for this development was provided by Farmers Bank (Spencer), Northwest Bank (Spencer), the Federal Home Loan Bank, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and HOME.

As a leader in affordable housing development, CHI has created or preserved over 1,600 affordable housing units at below-market rates. The organization has collaborated with government, civic groups, and other nonprofits to promote safe, accessible housing across Iowa. To date, CHI has invested nearly $300 million in Iowa communities, reinvesting all income from its projects back into local areas for over thirty years.

This event was part of NeighborWorks Week, spanning June 7 – 14, 2025. CHI is a proud member of NeighborWorks America, a national network of nearly 250 nonprofit organizations working to create affordable housing, promote financial stability, and strengthen communities. Through this affiliation, CHI benefits from shared resources, training, and support that enhance its ability to deliver innovative housing solutions and build strong, resilient neighborhoods.

“We are thrilled to open the Adel Manor Community Center for our residents to enjoy camaraderie and programming. As a NeighborWorks member organization, we are dedicated to affordable housing that responds to community needs through partnerships with local and state organizations.”

-Sam Erickson, CEO, Community Housing Initiatives

Community Housing Initiatives, Inc. (CHI) is Iowa’s largest non-profit housing development and consulting organization. Since 1993, CHI has partnered with communities of all sizes to create housing solutions that meet local needs and provide essential resident services.

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The post Creating space for safety appeared first on Community Housing Initiatives News.

We want to work together, as a team, as more information becomes available to us. Please read this information and share with your family. 

In the meantime, simple steps can be taken to make sure we are doing our best to stop the spread of germs. Here are a few other things you can do (teach your children to do the same!) to keep your family healthy and help prevent the spread of viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Stay away from others who are sick and stay home if you are ill
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue (make sure to throw it away after each use!) or cough and sneeze into your arm or elbow, not your hands
• Clean and disinfect household objects and surfaces in your home, and please take a little extra effort to help your community by disinfecting common areas, railings, door knobs, etc.
• Avoid touching your face

If you or a family member has a fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath, please see your doctor immediately. This is very important. Also, if you are sick, we ask that you hold basic work orders until you have been cleared from illness.

We also ask that you let your regional manager know if you test positive for the coronavirus (contact info is below). Your information will be kept private and will only be used to help us continue education to our family of residents.

Central Regional Manager’s Name: MONICA GREER
Tel: 515-223-0029  Email: [email protected]

Northwest Regional Manager’s Name: ALICIA ROOS
Tel: 712-262-5965  Email: [email protected]

Sioux City Regional Manager’s Name: JULIE SCOTT
Tel: 712-224-2233  Email: [email protected]

Eastern Regional Manager’s Name: PAULA GOURLEY
Tel: 319-362-1020  Email: [email protected]

Clinton Regional Manager’s Name: BEVERLY PETERSEN
Tel: 563-242-0045  Email: [email protected]

We are here to help answer any questions you have.

Thank you,
CHI Resident Services
 

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On Wednesday, the city and project partners held a press conference at Phenix School to deliver updates about the effort, which is also providing free internet service to residents living in our apartments.

The main transmitters to supply the internet service are installed atop Phenix School’s chimney, determined by project engineers to be the best available location to reach the widest area.

Public wireless signals are now available both at Railroad Park and along historic 5th Street in Historic Valley Junction, allowing the public to connect to the internet while visiting the popular shopping and entertainment district.

Through a partnership with the West Des Moines Community Schools, low and moderate income students at nearby Hillside Elementary (WDMCS) can sign up to receive an internet signal in their home.

Aureon and Ovation Networks, Inc are among the partner companies helping provide infrastructure and internet access to make the system work.

Over time, project partners say they’ll focus on expanding the new service to even more parts of the neighborhood.

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Community Housing Initiatives is pleased to be accepting applications for Van Fossen Square, a new independent living community serving seniors age 55+ in Adel.  This fall, we have remodeled to serve residents better. We have kept one of our best features – the affordable rents and the fact that water, sewer, trash, gas and electric bills are all included, along with free laundry.  And now our property has a fresh new look featuring great resident activity spaces like a great room, media room, and community room as well as an outdoor terrace with scenic country views.

The Great Room at Van Fossen Square.

The media room at Van Fossen Square.

The one-bedroom apartments in Van Fossen Square offer spacious living areas, a walk-in closet, a step-in shower with seat, and include major appliances.  We are a pet friendly community (weight limit and fees apply) with on-site laundry facilities and a beauty salon for residents' convenience.  Our resident services program offers regular activities a Van Fossen Square that help our residents get to know one another and become friends.

An apartment kitchen  in Van Fossen Square.

We are located at the site of the former Adel Assisted Living, and our new name and new look reflects our role as an independent living community rather than a health care facility.  Income restrictions apply at Van Fossen Square, and we gladly accept most forms of rental assistance.  A percentage of our apartment homes are available to people under age 55 who have a disability.  We invite you to schedule a visit and consider making Van Fossen Square your new home in Dallas County.

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