Hit by flood disaster in mid-2024, Spencer conducts housing study

Hit by flood disaster in mid-2024, Spencer conducts housing study

A housing study estimates the population of a northwest Iowa city hit by flash flooding in 2024 has dropped by about 100, far less than expected. Keith Carl, the researcher who conducted the study in Spencer, said only 22% of the 750 vacant housing units he identified are “habitable,”  which means the rest aren’t safe […]

Study finds Spencer's population dropped less than expected after 2024 flooding in Spencer

A housing study estimates the population of a northwest Iowa city hit by flash flooding in 2024 has dropped by about 100 — far less than expected. Keith Carl is the researcher who conducted the study in Spencer. He says only 22 percent of the 750 vacant housing units he identified are “habitable” — which means the rest aren’t safe to move into. Carl suggests the city could consider putting new housing in some of its older neighborhoods. Over two…