The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) recognized outstanding housing initiatives and leaders during the annual HousingIowa Awards, presented at the 2026 HousingIowa Conference in Des Moines on September 9, 2026. Among this year’s honorees, Origin Homes, based out of West Des Moines, received the Single-Family Development Award for its innovative approach to tackling Iowa’s housing shortage across rural Iowa and specifically Knoxville’s Veterans District.
Origin Homes, who is primarily a single-family custom homebuilder who builds throughout Iowa’s 99 counties, has added a focus for building rural housing throughout Iowa’s smaller communities. Each year through their Rural Housing Initiative, Origin selects a handful of towns to build three or five homes in hopes to help the housing market continue to build.
During the ceremony, two homeowners, Grant & Tessa Pearson, shared their experience in being the first homebuyers at the Veterans District shortly after having their daughter.
“When we later saw plans for one of the first Origin homes in Knoxville, I still did not believe we could afford it. Tessa kept researching and asking questions. Through a USDA Direct Loan, we learned the home truly was within reach. I remember looking at her and saying: “I can’t believe it. We can actually do this.” said Grant during his speech.
“After years of feeling like so much of our lives was outside our control, watching our home come together meant more than we can explain. Origin did not simply build us a house. They gave our family a place where we could finally breathe. The City of Knoxville also deserves tremendous credit. By helping create the Veterans District, the city gave families like ours the opportunity to stay in the community we love and build a future here,” said Tessa.
In 2026, Origin built an additional five homes in Knoxville’s Veterans District bringing the total to fifteen homes in this community. Origin has previously built 38 additional homes in communities like Conrad, Jefferson, Manning, Panora, and Gowrie.
Origin awarded four communities for Rural Housing Initiative in 2027
The HousingIowa Awards are presented annually to recognize programs, projects and professionals that set the standard for innovation and leadership in advancing housing opportunities. Award categories include Single-Family Development, Multifamily Development, Innovation, Special Needs Development, the Mark Sertterh Friend of Housing Award and the Kay Anderson Friend of Iowa Award. Nominations are accepted statewide and judged by an independent panel.
Read the full release surrounding the latest phase of work HERE.
