By Chris Faulkner
Josh Torres held a house-warming party Sunday in Fort Madison for a home he had never been inside.
Torres is the recipient of the first tiny home built by the Iowa 2x4s for Hope group, led by Lester Kistner and his sister, Stephanie Warner. Both served in the military and work to provide a permanent place to live for homeless veterans.
The rain did not dampen the open house on Sunday morning at 922 29th St., as Fort Madison Mayor Matt Mohrfeld, an honor guard, neighbors, and other community well-wishers watched as Torres got his first look at his new home.
It took less than two weeks to build, and that long only because of a few delays.
Building homes for veterans was a dream of Kistner and Warner for two years, modeling it after a group in Quincy, and it has finally come to fruition. Countless numbers of individuals and businesses provided labor, services, or products.
The 2x4s for Hope recipients do not own the home, but it comes fully furnished and fully stocked with food, and all the veteran pays for is the utilities and future household expenses.
Torres, originally from Pennsylvania, was impressed by the selflessness of the community.
“Everybody reaching out to help everybody. I greatly appreciate that very much. It’s something I will never forget, and it’s something I plan on paying it forward,” he said.
Torres served from 2008-2015 in the Pennsylvania National Guard, serving in Iraq.
“We did multiple missions both day and night,” Torres said. “It was my first deployment, so it was definitely an eye-opener.”
Upon returning stateside, Torres noticed, “Things were getting a little more expensive in Pennsylvania, so I decided to come out and see what life was like out here. I loved it, and I decided to stay.”
He stayed with a friend in Bloomfield, and then, through Veterans Affairs, “They helped put me into a rental until this was done,” Torres said.
Kistner and the group take applications, and Torres was selected for the first home.
Addressing the audience before entering his home, Torres said, “I didn’t serve this country because I felt I had to or because I had an obligation to. I served this country because I love this country, and it’s something I wanted to do to be a bigger part of something other than myself.”
Torres said, “I’ve been in some dark places the last three or four months, but I’m thankful to say that because of the support I have, everything is continuing to look up. I thank God for all the help he’s put before me.
“I thank you all again for your hard work and dedication to do this for veterans.”
Not tiny, but cozy
At 576 square feet, the home is larger than the traditional 400 square feet tiny homes, but it’s still cozy.
When you first walk in, the kitchen counter and cabinets are to your immediate left, to the right is the dining area and the room flows straight into the living room with a couch, chairs, and a flat-screen TV.
There’s a full bathroom, an office area, and then a bedroom, but the head and foot of the bed are flushing against the walls. A large closet holds the dresser drawers.
“Our goal is to build at least one home in all 99 counties,” Kistner said, adding he plans to reach out to city officials in Burlington. Some businesses that helped with supplies in the Fort Madison home are Burlington-based.
Among the businesses which provided help were: Jim Baier Ford dealership, Shottenkirk Automotive, Farm & Home, U.S. Gypsum, Lowe’s, Johnson Sod Co., JJD Contracting, Decker Construction, Keystone Cabinets, Sherwin Williams, White Oak Painting, Scottie’s Potties, Schulte Plumbing, and Hall’s Excavating.
The 2x4s group bought a lot big enough for two homes, so when the funds are secured in full, Kistner, Warner, and other volunteers will build another home for another homeless vet.
At the open house, a UFCW rep presented a check for $500 to Kistner and Warner toward that next home.
Anyone wishing to help support a home in their area may message Kistner or Warner on the Iowa 2x4s For Hope Facebook page.