Cedar Rapids real estate agents are launching a new program to help residents displace by the flooding in June to return to their neighborhoods. Realtor Rick Kullander says the "Adopt-a-Family" program will match non-profit groups, churches and businesses with flooded out families to help them get back on their feet.
Kullander says if they don’t get on it now, winter will be upon them and it will create a whole bunch of new problems in the spring — such as burst pipes. "So the more people we can help get back on their feet this fall, the better off everybody’s going to be," Kullander says. Kullander says they’re at a point where the families really need some help getting back in their homes.
Kullander says a lot of the families have been running on adrenaline in the last month or two and don’t know where to get started in rebuilding. "And we as a community need to come together to let those people know that they’re going to be supported in the rebuilding process," Kullander says. Kullander says the "Adopt-a-Family" program borrows from other programs that help people in need.
He describes it as a combination of the Angle Tree Christmas program where people pick a child and go and buy gifts for the child — and the Habitat for Humanity program where you get a church or business that has a group of people with resources to help the family get back on its feet. Kullander says groups that wish to adopt a family can visit the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors website, or call 319-363-9604.