IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - A new duplex in Iowa City is offering immigrant families more than a place to stay — it’s offering them a foundation to start a new life.

The Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County is officially opening what it’s calling the “Welcome House” — a fully furnished duplex designed to give newly arrived families stability while they look for jobs and long-term housing.

Each side of the duplex includes four bedrooms with enough space for several families at a time. It’s also the first property the organization owns instead of rents. It’s a $460,000 investment made possible through community partnerships and loans.

Mazahir Salih, the group’s executive director and an immigrant herself, said she understands how critical that early support can be.

“I needed that lit

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