Protecting a Home Built to Honor a Hero: Iowa Homes For Heroes Partners with Per Mar Security Services

October 21, 2026

Per Mar Security’s LiveShield temporary video security rentals are helping protect a remote construction site in Marshalltown, IA, giving project leaders real-time visibility, faster response to potential threats, and peace of mind while building a home for a fallen soldier’s family. 

What Was the Challenge?

In 2024, R&R Realty Group established Iowa Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to providing housing support to veterans and first responders. The organization works with state and federal partners to help make homeownership possible for those who have served their communities and country. 

The organization’s 2026 project in rural Marshalltown, IA carries particular significance. The team is renovating an existing farmhouse owned by Staff Sgt. William Nate Howard, who was killed in action in Syria in 2025 before he had the opportunity to live in the home. His wife will occupy it once finished in November of 2026.  

With extensive renovations underway, the property presented several security challenges. Located along a rural gravel road, the site was remote and difficult to monitor in person. Construction materials, equipment, and infrastructure left on-site after hours were vulnerable to theft, trespassing, and vandalism. 

The team had already experienced vandalism at an outbuilding near the road, reinforcing the need for a proactive security solution. 

Because project leaders and contractors couldn’t be on-site around the clock (and some were an hour or more away), regularly driving to check on the property wasn’t a practical solution. 

The goal was to secure the jobsite, maintain visibility into activity after hours, and give the team a reliable way to respond when something unexpected happened. 

What Was the Solution?

Per Mar Security deployed its LiveShield temporary video security rental solution to provide remote visibility and 24/7 human monitoring of the Marshalltown construction site in real time. 

The installation included three cameras positioned to cover the areas the project team identified as most important. Rather than requiring someone to be physically present, the system allowed authorized team members to access camera views from their phones and check on activity at the property. 

The setup also gave Per Mar’s Monitoring Center the ability to contact project representatives when unexpected activity was detected. The team could review the camera footage, determine whether a vehicle or visitor was expected, and decide whether to request a law enforcement response. 

When necessary, the system also allowed the team to communicate directly with individuals on-site through the monitoring equipment, providing an opportunity to deter unauthorized activity before it escalated. 

Remore Visibility Without Constant Site Visits

For a project team working across multiple locations, being able to check on the property remotely made a meaningful difference. 

With camera access available on their phones, team members could monitor activity during the workday and review unexpected activity after hours without making an unnecessary trip to the site. 

“Receiving a call from Per Mar about an unfamiliar vehicle gave the team an immediate heads-up and the ability to see who was coming and going,” Tyler Holtorf, DIrector of Pre-Construction, explained.

That visibility helped the team stay informed while keeping the project moving. 

A responsive, Human Approach to Monitoring

The technology was only part of the solution. Communication with Per Mar’s Monitoring Center gave project leaders another layer of support. 

When activity was detected, the team could discuss what was happening with monitoring professionals and determine the appropriate next step, including whether to dispatch law enforcement or hold off. 

This approach helped the team make informed decisions without having to be physically present at the property. 

Installation Designed for the Jobsite

Temporary security equipment must work within the realities of an active construction environment. At the Marshalltown property, the team coordinated power for the installation through an existing utility pole, with an electrician adding an outlet for the equipment. 

Per Mar installed the system without requiring the project team to be present for setup. Once installation was complete, the team was notified and could log in to access the cameras. 

The straightforward setup and intuitive app made it easy for the team to begin using the system. “Tyler described it as user-friendly technology that gives him the peace of mind to sleep at night.” 

Throughout the project to date, the equipment has maintained reliable coverage without reported interruptions. 

What Were the Results?

Per Mar’s LiveShield deployment gave Iowa Homes for Heroes and R&R Realty Group a practical way to protect a remote jobsite while remaining focused on the renovation and its larger mission. 

Key Benefits Included:

Tyler reported that the security installation had no negative impact on the project timeline or budget. Instead, remote visibility helped save trips to the site and allowed the team to concentrate on completing the renovation. 

A Security Partner Supporting a Meaningful Mission

For Iowa Homes for Heroes and R&R Realty Group, protecting the Marshalltown property means protecting more than construction materials and equipment. It means safeguarding a project with deep personal significance and helping ensure the home can be completed in honor of a fallen service member. 

Per Mar’s LiveShield temporary security rentals provided the visibility and monitoring support the team needed to protect the site without requiring a constant physical presence. 

As the team continues its work, the ability to check cameras remotely, receive timely notifications, and coordinate with Per Mar’s Monitoring Center has become a valuable part of managing the project. 

For other builders, developers, and community organizations managing remote construction sites, the project demonstrates how temporary security can help address the challenges of limited on-site oversight. 

With the right security solution in place, teams can spend less time worrying about what’s happening at the jobsite and more time focusing on what they’re there to build.