Announcing our new Executive Director!

Houses into Homes is excited to announce Ian Cawley as its new Executive Director!

Effective January 1, 2025, Ian Cawley has accepted the position of Executive Director of Houses into Homes. Ian is a familiar face to many at Houses into Homes; he has served as Houses into Homes’ Director of Operations since April 2024. Ian is driven to make a difference in the greater Iowa City community, and he is passionate about Houses into Homes’ mission to provide the comforts of home to those experiencing furniture poverty. His dedication has been apparent since he first joined the organization, and he has already created and expanded strong relationships, learning from others while improving the organization’s foundation and building for future growth. 

Ian has long been inspired by the work of the organization he now leads. “We have neighbors in our community who get by while sleeping on the floor,” said Cawley. “Neighbors who make do without the tools to prepare and serve meals, who play games and do homework in the dark, who aren’t able to comfortably lounge and watch a movie at home. We also have neighbors looking for a meaningful place to donate extra furniture and household goods where they are immediately repurposed locally for no cost, rather than tossed in the landfill. And, we have talented friends and neighbors yearning for more community involvement. It’s a wonderful community we’ve been building. It’s a profound privilege to be a part of it.”

Prior to joining Houses into Homes, Ian spent nearly 15 years in corporate sales. Before that, he worked at many different local businesses in Iowa City, from restaurants to moving companies. For 10 years, he was a community mentor (a “big”) with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Johnson County, and his now 17-year-old “little” brother even helped as a delivery day volunteer this past summer. He also currently serves as a trustee on the board of his church congregation. 

A graduate of Luther College, Ian also has a passion for music and is an accomplished cello player.  When not at Houses into Homes, Ian can be found spending time with his wife, Emily, and 5-year-old daughter.

Located in Coralville, Iowa, Houses into Homes provides gently-used beds, furniture and household items for families and individuals in Johnson County who are exiting homelessness, domestic violence and other crisis situations.  The organization’s mission is to help people feel the comfort of home and to do so in a way that honors their experience and engages them with unconditional positive regard.