(Massena) — A new home from the IPI Home Building Program arrived in Massena last week. On Monday, crews moved the house onto its foundation at one of the town’s vacant lots.
The city-owned home was funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Massena City Councilman Doug Venteicher stated that the city has observed other communities successfully utilizing this program to fill empty lots in their neighborhoods.
The house features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full basement, and a storm shelter. It also includes a furnace and air conditioner, and a local contractor will complete the interior work.
The IPI Home Building Program, based at the Newton Correctional Facility, constructs homes for Homes for Iowa, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to addressing Iowa’s housing shortage, providing skilled trade training for incarcerated men, and reducing recidivism.








