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The Johnson County VISTA Corridor Recovery Program
The VISTA Flood Recovery team in Johnson County was established in the summer of 2008, when 23 new VISTA Summer Associates stepped forward to assist in recovery efforts from record flooding and the resulting damage to individuals, agencies providing services to people in need, cultural and historical resources, local city and county governments, and the University of Iowa.
During July, August and the beginning of September, VISTAs designed and staffed the Volunteer Call Center at United Way of Johnson County. VISTA Summer Associates took requests for flood assistance and matched them with people calling from across the state and nation to offer help and resources.
VISTAs led “mucking” operations in the field, often partnering with Habitat for Humanity to assist homeowners and a non-profit housing authority in first-line flood recovery, cleaning out flooded basements and tearing badly damaged properties down to the studs. Their daily familiarity with the situation and growing construction skills raised the value of by-the-day or week-long volunteer groups such as UI Law Students, LDS church members, and the Minnesota Vikings football organization. They helped residents relocate by moving—and in some cases, locating—new furniture. They led de-sandbagging efforts in Coralville and Iowa City, partnering with United Way, Coralville, and the City of Iowa City on community-wide work days.
VISTAs played a major role in the recovery of the Johnson County Crisis Center and Food Bank, which was itself forced to evacuate for several days as the flood waters crested. One VISTA was tasked to run the warehouse, overseeing moving commodities and material back into the building from trailer-trucks, and seeing to reorganization of operations even as the client-load on the organization swelled due to people dislocated from homes and jobs due to the flood. Summer Associates assisted Crisis Center Flood Advocates in taking calls for information and scheduling of appointments, processing reyg'; quests and analyzing data. Summer Associates assisted in the Food Bank, doing client in-takes, registration and delivery supplies. Because Associates were there on a daily basis, they provided continuity to the over-taxed and diminished regular volunteer base and helped integrate new volunteers into the organization.
VISTA Corridor Recovery Johnson County
Here are a few of the projects we’re working on:
Flood Recovery: Continuing our work on recovery from the devastating floods of 2008, we will partner with the United Way Volunteer Center to coordinate cleanup and rebuild efforts of local and visiting volunteer crews.
Children and Youth: We will provide recreational, nutritional and mentoring programs for children and youth in low and moderate income areas through the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County.
Environment: We will create and implement sustainable programs assisting low and moderate income residents to incorporate cost-effective energy, conservation and recycling initiatives into their lives. We also provide surveillance of mosquito populations in flood-affected areas for ISU and the Johnson County Department of Public Health.
Housing: We will work with Shelter House to redesign the Emergency Overflow program, and work with the Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship, Habitat for Humanity, faith communities, and DOC re-entry programs to expand the availability of quality, affordable housing in our community.
Economic Empowerment: We will expand micro-business and alternative income projects for low and moderate income residents through partnerships with Bill’s Small Mall and the Neighborhood Centers.
Food: We will work with groups and individuals to enhance opportunities for community gardening, expand summer food programs for children, and assist in the Johnson County Crisis Center Food Bank as well as the North Liberty and Coralville Food Pantries.
To find out about positions in Iowa City and Johnson County
call: (319) 625-2117 or email: iowacity@vistacorridorrecovery.org