UpLift - Research to Inform Economic Mobility Solutions

10/22/2026

Congratulations to Grand View University nursing students for coming within $50 of guessing a Central Iowa ALICE family’s monthly survival budget—the closest estimate we’ve seen yet!

During tours of The Community Crate, we challenge visitors to guess an ALICE household’s monthly survival budget. It’s harder than you might think!

10/20/2026

It’s a beautiful day at Grand View University! The Community Crate is here on campus until 4 today, 9-4 and 5-8 Wednesday, and 9-4 Thursday. Stop by and say hi! ☀️ UpLift - Research to Inform Economic Mobility Solutions

10/20/2026

☀️It’s a beautiful day here at Grand View University! The Crate is here until 4 pm today, 9-4 and 5-8 tomorrow, and 9-4 on Thursday. Stop by and enjoy the sunshine with the UpLift team! ☀️

10/15/2026

Meet our keynote speaker for Addressing Energy Insecurity in Iowa - Dr. Diana Hernández, an associate professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. She describes Energy Insecurity as a multifaceted issue using her framework that outlines three dimensions that explain the essential elements of living without the ability to meet household energy needs.

Don't miss your chance to meet Dr. Hernández, register today at https://bit.ly/4duRt3M

10/13/2026

Local affordability measures such as ALICE, Asset Limited Income Constrained and Employed, estimate that a family of four, with two working adults and two children in childcare need to be making almost $83,000 per year just to survive in Central Iowa. Thirty-four percent of working Iowans fall short of this measure, forcing them to make difficult decisions - like paying for utilities or putting gas in their car.

These numbers represent thousands in our community who experience the threat or actual disconnection of utility services. Learn more about this growing need by registering for UpLift's latest Community Conversation - Addressing Energy Insecurity in Iowa.

Register today at: bit.ly/4duRt3M

10/09/2026

We’re excited to learn alongside community with our latest research study CIERAS!

UpLift’s Central Iowa Emergency Rental Assistance study is looking at how long emergency rental assistance should be provided to families in a crisis for them to regain economic stability.

10/06/2026

Meet Professor Passe, one of the speakers for UpLift's latest Community Conversation. Ulrike Passe is a Professor of Architecture and the Director of the Center for Building Energy Research at State University. As a member of the CommHEAT research team she explored how extreme heat events affect vulnerable communities, focusing on people’s perceptions, adaptive behaviors, and social network support.

Learn more about her local research by registering for Addressing Energy Insecurity in Iowa here: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/7naq2r3/lp/bdeab812-7be2-4fa9-90b9-1d80e6810b1a

09/29/2026

In Iowa, the average annual residential energy bill has increased 40% in 10 years, from $1,601 in 2016 to $2,244 in 2025. When households struggle to pay their energy bills and avoid being disconnected from the grid, they may accrue debt, forgo expenses on food, and use space heaters or ovens to warm their homes. These coping strategies can introduce significant physical and financial risks.

Join UpLift for a Community Conversation about Energy Insecurity in Iowa and what solutions, including ideas born from the ISU CommHEAT Team's local research, can help ensure families have access to meet their basic household energy needs.

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/7naq2r3

09/23/2026

Registration is open for UpLift's Community Conversation - Addressing Energy Insecurity in Iowa. This conversation will feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Diana Hernández from Columbia University, centered around her foundational research on the concept of ‘energy insecurity’.
Following Dr. Hernández, the CommHEAT research team from Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa will share their findings from their local research conducted with Des Moines Capitol East residents and how they created a community informed indoor heat emergency alert system.

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/7naq2r3/lp/bdeab812-7be2-4fa9-90b9-1d80e6810b1a

09/17/2026

Excited to engage our affordable housing colleagues in showcasing the Community Crate at the 2026 Housing Conference!