Iowa Finance Authority Awards More than $3.6 Million to Assist Homelessness Assistance Initiatives

Forty-Nine Iowa Agencies Receive Grant Funding to Support Homeless Programs

DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today approved more than $3.6 million in homeless assistance grants to assist 49 agencies with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2018 calendar year.

The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program and the state Shelter Assistance Fund. The Iowa Finance Authority conducted a combined competition for the two programs and received 50 applications which were scored in several categories, including project design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, and budget and grants management.

”The grants awarded today will play an integral role in assisting Iowans in their time of need,” said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. ”I credit our outstanding homeless service partner agencies for their tireless efforts in connecting Iowans with these programs to assist them in getting back on their feet, which will have a lasting impact on hundreds of Iowa families and our communities.”

Emergency Solutions Grant Program
The primary purpose of the Emergency Solutions Grant program is to help Iowans and their families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. Examples of eligible services include rental and other emergency financial assistance, emergency shelter, case management and supportive services.

Twenty-four agencies were awarded funding under this program for a total of more than $2.6 million. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the Iowa Finance Authority in Iowa.

Shelter Assistance Fund
The Shelter Assistance Fund program provides assistance to help with the costs of operations of homeless and domestic violence shelters, essential services for the homeless and evaluation and reporting services.

Twenty-five agencies were awarded a total of more than $1 million through the Shelter Assistance Fund for the 2018 calendar year. The program is funded with five percent of the proceeds from the real estate transfer tax.

The Iowa Legislature created the Iowa Finance Authority, the state’s housing finance agency, in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of housing for low- and moderate-income Iowans. Since then, the Iowa Finance Authority’s role has grown to include nearly 40 affordable housing, water quality, and agricultural development programs. The Iowa Finance Authority is a self-supporting public agency.

Media Contact:
Ashley Jared
515-725-4934
IowaFinanceAuthority.gov